Helen Konek facts for kids

Helen Agaaqtuq Konek is an Inuk elder from Arviat, Nunavut, a territory in northern Canada. She became well-known in 2019 when a photograph taken of her in 1949 became very popular online.

Early Life and Family

Helen Agaaqtuq was born in May 1932. She was born in a traditional tent called a tupiq, near the eastern shore of Henik Lake. Her parents were Piqqanaaq Agaaqtuq and Paalak Agaaqtuq. Helen had three brothers named Nanauq, Pukiluk, and Kinaalik.

As a child, Helen often went on caribou hunting trips with her brothers and father. These trips sometimes took them to Ennadai Lake, which was in the area where the Ahiarmiut people lived.

The Famous Photograph

In 1949, when Helen was 17 years old, a photographer named Richard Harrington took her picture. Harrington was traveling around the Arctic and taking many photos. Helen's photograph was taken in a place called ᑭᖓᕐᔪᐊᓕᒃ, which means "of big hill" in English.

Adult Life and Community

By 1952, Helen's family, the Agaaqtuqs, were living near the Padlei trading post. In 1953, Helen began her life with James Konek. James was the son of a storekeeper in Arviat. Helen and James lived in Arviat during the winter months. In the summer, they would live in the Barren Lands area.

In 1957, there was a difficult time known as the 1950 Caribou Inuit famine. During this time, Helen's mother, Paalak, passed away. However, the rest of the family survived by eating fish, rabbit, and ptarmigan. In 1960, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police moved the Konek family from Padlei to Arviat.

A Photo Goes Viral

One of Richard Harrington's photographs of Helen Konek showed her entering her igloo. In 2019, this photo was shared widely on the internet. This happened after Helen's grandson, Jordan Konek, who is a journalist, posted it on Twitter.

Today, Helen Konek is an elder in her community. She continues to live in Arviat, Nunavut.