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A big piece of rock with no cracks or fissures will not go to waste in the presence of Qikiqtaaluk carvers.
This month, five people from Igloolik created a 16-tonne masterpiece that will sit by the dorms at the Mary River Mine. The carvers spent just under two weeks working as a team to plan, design, carve, sand and polish the boulder into a statue celebrating Nunavummuit culture and connection with the land.
Silas Qulaut, one of the artists, said he and his carving mates were constantly communicating to make the project work.
“It went very well helping each other, it was good,” he said.
The carvers spent just under two weeks working to design, carve, sand and polish the boulder. (Baffinland Iron Mines)
Qulaut describes an igloo, a drum dancer, muskox, polar bear, a dog team, seals, walrus and whales all depicted on the statue.
The rock is gabbro from a glacial deposit in Milne Port, not far from Baffinland’s shipping route to Pond Inlet, according to the company’s manager of community relations Michael Salomonie.
He said the company transported the rock about 150 kilometres inland for the project.
The sculpture has scenes of wildlife and life on the land celebrating Inuit culture. (Baffinland Iron Mines)
“This beautiful centerpiece will bring that sense of pride and the lasting symbol of Inuit talent, culture and the very important role of community play in the success of this project at Mary River,” Salomonie said.
The carving is now complete and Baffinland will unveil it at a ceremony on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.