Simon Tookoome
Encyclopedia
Simon Tookoome was an Utkusiksalingmiut Inuk
artist. In his youth, Tookoome and other Utkusiksalingmiut lived along the Back River
and in Gjoa Haven on King William Island
. Here he met and was influenced by the Netsilik Inuit.
He moved to Baker Lake, Nunavut
, Canada
in the 1960s when his Inuit band was threatened with starvation. After the arrival of arts advisor's in 1969, Tookoome began to draw and carve stones. He was a founding member of the Sanavik Co-op.
He is author, with Sheldon Oberman
, of the children's book Shaman's Nephew: A Life in the Far North, which won the $10,000 Norma Fleck Award
for Canadian children's non-fiction in 2000. This autobiographical book deals with Tookoome's youthful experiences of the traditional Inuit way of life, including experiences with hunting and encountering non-Inuit culture for the first time. He is also included in Irene Avaalaaqiaq
Myth and Reality:
In addition to being an accomplished artist, Tookoome is renowned as a master whip
per.
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
artist. In his youth, Tookoome and other Utkusiksalingmiut lived along the Back River
Back River
The Back River , is a river in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in Canada...
and in Gjoa Haven on King William Island
King William Island
King William Island is an island in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut and forms part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. In area it is between and making it the 61st largest island in the world and Canada's 15th largest island...
. Here he met and was influenced by the Netsilik Inuit.
He moved to Baker Lake, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the 1960s when his Inuit band was threatened with starvation. After the arrival of arts advisor's in 1969, Tookoome began to draw and carve stones. He was a founding member of the Sanavik Co-op.
He is author, with Sheldon Oberman
Sheldon Oberman
Sheldon Oberman was an award-winning Canadian children's writer who lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Born in Winnipeg, Oberman grew up in the city's North End. After graduating from St. Johns High School, he studied literature first at the University of Winnipeg and then at the Hebrew University in...
, of the children's book Shaman's Nephew: A Life in the Far North, which won the $10,000 Norma Fleck Award
Norma Fleck Award
The Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction is a lucrative literary award founded in May 1999 by the Fleck Family Foundation and the Canadian Children's Book Centre, and presented to the year's best non-fiction book for a youth audience...
for Canadian children's non-fiction in 2000. This autobiographical book deals with Tookoome's youthful experiences of the traditional Inuit way of life, including experiences with hunting and encountering non-Inuit culture for the first time. He is also included in Irene Avaalaaqiaq
Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq
Irene Avaalaaqiaq Tiktaalaaq is an Inuit artist who was born at Princess Mary Lake near Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada. She moved to Baker Lake in 1958 to give birth to one of her children....
Myth and Reality:
In addition to being an accomplished artist, Tookoome is renowned as a master whip
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
per.