Ikayukta Tunnillie facts for kids

The name of Ikayukta Tunnillie in Inuit characters.

Ikayukta Tunnillie (born 1911, died 1980) was a talented Inuit artist. She was known for her amazing printmaking and drawing skills. Ikayukta was born in Nunavut, a northern territory in Canada. She spent much of her life traveling across the Arctic. Her art often showed animals and daily life in the North. Ikayukta was one of the first and oldest artists to work with the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative.

Growing Up in Nunavut

Ikayukta Tunnillie was born in 1911. Her exact birthday is not known. This was common for people born in Nunavut at that time. She was born near a place called Frobisher Bay, which is now known as Iqaluit.

Family Life and Arctic Journeys

When Ikayukta was a teenager, an older man named Iyola Tunili took her in. Iyola already had a wife, Samalinga, but he also married Ikayukta. They all lived together peacefully. Their family included Iyola, Samalinga, their child, and Ikayukta.

They traveled a lot for many years. They moved from Resolute Bay to Clyde River, Pangnirtung, Netiling Lake, and finally to Cape Dorset. They lived in tents made of animal skins, which they built themselves. They traveled across the snowy land using dog sleds.

As a young woman, Ikayukta traveled on a ship called the SS Nascopie. This ship took her from southern Baffin Island to Arctic Bay and the northern Baffin coast. Her first child was even born on this ship!

After Iyola passed away from a lung infection, Ikayukta continued her travels. She journeyed with her second husband, Nungusweetuk. Ikayukta finally settled down in Cape Dorset in 1970. By then, she was 59 years old.

Becoming an Artist

Ikayukta Tunnillie started making prints with the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative. This co-op was a special craft center and store. It opened in 1959. The co-op helped bring stonecut art to the area. This art form was taught by James Houston. He spent four months in Japan learning how to do it.

The Hudson's Bay Company and the Canadian Guild of Crafts provided art supplies. Ikayukta's daughter, Kakulu, also became a successful artist. Kakulu started drawing before her mother. She encouraged Ikayukta to begin drawing when Ikayukta was living with her son in Aqiatalaulavik.

Ikayukta's artwork was first shown in 1971. It was part of the Cape Dorset Annual Collection. She was one of only 14 artists featured in that collection.

Art for Family and Fun

Ikayukta's art also helped her earn money for her family. In an interview, she talked about taking her drawings to the co-op to sell them. She said, "I get pleasure out of drawing when I feel like it." She also added, "When there is not enough money to buy food I know that I can help [my family] by selling some drawings."

She explained, "When I notice that there is something missing or that my family doesn't have enough food for the weekend or the week, that's when I draw." Selling her drawings was Ikayukta's only way to earn money.

Ikayukta was very modest about her art. In the 1980 Dorset Annual Collection, she said, "Even though I can't really draw well, it's fortunate that they put my prints in a book like this – even though I can't draw like the others do."

Where Her Art Was Shown

Ikayukta Tunnillie's artwork was shown in many places, including:

• Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the National Museum of Man, Ottawa, Ontario
• Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Inuit Gallery of Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Rideau Hall (presented by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada), Ottawa, Ontario
• Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Canadian Arctic Producers, Ottawa, Ontario
• Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
• Scarsdale, New York, U.S.A.
• Hartsdale, New York, U.S.A.
• Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, U.S.A.
• McMichael Canadian Collection, Kleinberg, Ontario
• Muscarelle Museum of Art College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.A.

She also had a special solo show called:

• Ikayukta Retrospect: Stonecuts, lithographs and drawings from 1972 to 1980, at the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia

Ikayukta was also a featured artist in:

• 1978 Cape Dorset Annual Collection

Later Life and Legacy

Ikayukta Tunnillie had two children: Qavaroak, born in 1928, and Kakulu, born in 1940. She also became a grandmother. Her husband passed away sometime before 1975.

In 1980, the Cape Dorset Collection reported that she was having trouble moving around. This was due to painful joints. At that time, she was living with her grandson and his family. Her last artwork was part of the 21st annual Cape Dorset collection in 1980.

Ikayukta Tunnillie passed away that same year in Cape Dorset. She was one of the oldest and most respected printmakers in her community. Her art continues to be celebrated today.