Daniel Inukpuk
(1942–)
Daniel Inukpuk
1942–
Daniel Inukpuk (1942– ) was born in Sarollie Weetaluktuk’s camp near Inukjuak (Port Harrison), Nunavik, Quebec. Originally a carver, Daniel also created many prints that are defined by their sense of immediacy. His figures are always in motion, bursting with energy as they complete their daily activities.
Daniel comes from a family of carvers. He is the son of carver Johnnie Inookpuk, and his brothers Charlie and Johnny Jr. are also carvers. Daniel's family moved to Inukjuak in the 1950s, and Daniel began carving around 1960. He later learned printmaking techniques from Thomassie and Lucassie Echalook who ran the printshop in Inukjuak. Daniel split his time evenly between carving and printmaking until the printshop closed in 1976.
Today, Daniel is vocal about the current challenges that carvers face, especially how difficult it has become to access high-quality stone. Despite this, Daniel continues to carve today, often with long-time friend Lucassie Echalook. Active in the Inukjuak community, Daniel is a board member of the Unaaq’s Men’s Association, an organization that coordinates workshops to teach younger males how to make traditional tools, igloo’s, kayaks, and fishing nets, as well as a member of the Inukjuak Co-operative which provides space for elders to come together, socialize, carve, and help one another.
Daniel’s sculptures were first exhibited in 1967 in Eskimo Sculpture at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. In the early 1970s, his prints were published in several Nunavik print collections. Since then, his carvings and prints have been exhibited in Canada, the United States, France, Belgium, Italy, Israel, and Japan. His work is also held in permanent collections at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C., among others. In 2021, he designed the medal for Quebec’s first ‘Inuit First Peoples Medal’ to be awarded by the lieutenant-governor of Quebec.
