Man Thought of His Kayak

Hunting Caribou from Kayaks

Netsilik River

IreneAvaalaaqiaq, BakerLake, 1976.

Stencil, 39.7 x 63.0 cm.

The upturned boat bracketing the heads is a greatly simplified kayak shape. The influence of Avaalaaqiaq's prints is evident here. The super-imposed shapes would lend themselves well to that medium.

Luke Anguhadluq, Baker Lake, 1976.

Stonecut and stencil, 95.5 x 59.0 cm.

In the autumn, the Inuit camped near the usual crossing places of the migrating caribou herds, hunting the animals from kayaks as they swam across the rivers. Anguhadluq shows from three distinct viewpoints the conical tents at the water's edge, the hunters setting out in kayaks, and the caribou.

Pitseolak, 1973

Stonecut, 57.5 x 51.7 cm.

“We would often camp at Natsilik, a place about a week’s journey from Cape Dorset, near many lakes. It had the most beautiful drinking water, the most beautiful water have ever found. We often went to Natsilik to hunt fish; and at Natsilik, too, there were many geese.”

The word netsilik means “with seals”. Fresh water is found in a number of the Arctic’s inland lakes. The swimming creatures in Pitseoak’s image have an odd mixture of seal and fish characteristics.