Gary's Seal

Relocation Narratives from Resolute Bay

My name is Gary Isaac Kalluk ᒋᐊᕆ ᑲᓪᓗᒃ. I am from Resolute Bay in Nunavut, which is the south end of Cornwallis Island. I am a student here at Nunavut Arctic College, taking the jewellery and metalwork program – my commonlaw motivated me to take the course because she saw the potential for me to do great art. I brought my family – Jeannie (my commonlaw), and my two kids, Leroy and Carol – here to Iqaluit for two years while I take this program.

Here’s the story behind my seal. A couple days ago, I stumbled upon a website on the studio’s computer with interviews of my family in Resolute Bay about the relocation that happened in the 1950s. I don’t know much about it, my family doesn’t talk much about it, but I discovered their stories online. Iqqaumavara is the name of the site, it means “I remember.”

http://www.iqqaumavara.com/en/

When I clicked on it, it took me to a page that’s titled “Watch the 12 short films that tell the story of this human tragedy.” I clicked on “Interviews,” and it took me to a page with numerous interviews including my family: I found my grandparents, my uncle and aunt.

I watched the interviews. It sounded like they had a rough time. I just felt love for them after that. This experience is what inspired me to inscribe my seal with the word ᓇᓪᓕᖕᓇᖅ which means Love. I carved this feeling of love for my family into stone, which comes from the land. That’s my story so far.