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Simon Tookoome

シモン・トゥークーム

Simon Tookoome

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1934-12-09 （Chantrey Inlet）
Died
2010-11-07 （Baker Lake, Nunavut） age 75
Nationality
Canada
Languages
Inuktitut, English
Religion
Traditional Inuit beliefs
Residence History
Along the Back River and Gjoa Haven on King William Island → Baker Lake, Nunavut

Career

Occupations
Inuit artist, author, stone carver
Active Years
1969-2010
Affiliations
Sanavik Co-op
Influenced By
Netsilik Inuit

Awards

Norma Fleck Award
2000
Work: Shaman's Nephew: A Life in the Far North
Category: Canadian children's non-fiction
Organization: Canadian Children's Book Centre
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Shaman's Nephew: A Life in the Far North

1999 autobiographical children's non-fiction

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.

Traditional Inuit lifeHuntingStarvationHarmony with nature

Bibliography

  • Shaman's Nephew: A Life in the Far North

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Simple narrative based on Inuit oral tradition
Recurring Motifs
Spiritual connection with animalsStruggle for survival

Health

  • Threat of starvation
    1957-1958
    Survived on fish, lost most dogs but family survived.

Legacy

Recognized as a pioneer of Inuit art, acclaimed for works depicting traditional life.

In Popular Culture

  • Renowned as a master whipper.

Quotes

  • In the winter of 1957 to 1958, the caribou took a different route to the calving grounds. We could not find them. All the animals were scarce. We were left waiting and many of the people died of hunger. My family did not suffer as much as others. None of us died. We kept moving and looking. We survived on fish. We had thirty dogs. All but four died but we only had to eat one of them. The rest we left behind. We did not feel it was right to eat them or feed them to the other dogs. My father and his brothers had gone ahead to hunt. We had lost a lot of weight and were very hungry. I left the igloo and I knelt and prayed at a great rock. This was the first time I had ever prayed. Then five healthy caribou appeared on the ice and they did not run away. I thought I would not be able to catch them because there were no shadows. The land was flat without even a rock for cover. However, I was able to kill them with little effort. I was so grateful, that I shook their hooves as a sign of gratitude because they gave themselves up to my hunger. I melted the snow with my mouth and gave them each a drink. I was careful in removing the sinews so as to ease their spirits' pain. This is the traditional way to show thanks. Because of what those caribou did, I always hunted in this way. I respected the animals.
    Source: Irene Avaalaaqiaq Myth and Reality (2002)

Trivia

  • Renowned as a master whipper.
  • Founding member of the Sanavik Co-op.