Inukpaujaq

Inukpaujaq

(c.1909 - c.1992)
of Salliit (Coral Harbour).
Wife of Uyaraq and Pameolik.
Daughter of Valerie Qalingaq/Qalinga/Kalirngak and Remi Ivallu
Biological daughter of George Cleveland.
Disc Number: E3662.

Also known as: Elizabeth Inukpaujaq / Inukpaojaq/ Innukpaujaq / Inukpauyak / Enukpaoyak / Inukpauyak Elisapee

According to her family, Inukpaujaq was born about 1909 somewhere on Baffin Island, perhaps around Cape Dorset or Igloolik, although her birth certificate lists her birthday as Sept. 12, 1912.  (Note: The Igloolik Research Centre in Igloolik is said to have a family tree for Valerie Qalingaq and Remi Ivallu. Has anyone seen it?)

Inukpaujaq

Inukpaujaq lived in Salliit (Coral Harbour) and was a sculptor.

She married Uyaraq (aka Ujarak, Ujaraq) who was the son of the shaman Ava (written about by Greenlandic explorer Knud Rasmussen. See the movie “The Journals of Knud Rasmussen” for more about Rasmussen’s visit in Iglulik with Ava, who has been called “the last great Inuit shaman.” Uyarak’s part in the movie was played by young actor Isa Ammaq.) Ujarak was also the brother of shaman Atuat (aka IttukuSuk. She died in 1976, and is known for being the last Inuit to have extensive traditional tattoos.) Inukpaujaq and Uyaraq had two children.

Inukpaujaq married Laurent Pameolik (aka Pamiulik, Pammeeolik, Pa-mi-oo-le), who was said to be the son of whaler George Comer and a Qaernermiuk or Kenepetu woman named Ookok or Ooktok. He was adopted by Nivisanaaq (“Shoofly”), Capt. Comer’s longtime companion, and her husband Angutimarik. Based on a childhood photo in the book When the Whalers were Up North, we might guess he was born about 1900-10, although another record lists Laurent Pameolik of Sallit (Disc# E3-661) as born on Nov. 18, 1911. In 1952 Pamiuik became the successor to John Ell (Amaulik Audlanit) as the captain of a sea vessel hosting a Canada Geographic Branch expedition. Inukpaujaq and Pameolik had nine children.

Laurent Pamiulik Southampton Island, 1926.

One grandchild explains: “When my grandmother Inukpaujaq was ready for a relationship, Ujarak the son of Ava got together with Inukpaujaq and had two children. Then Ava the father of Ujarak passed away. Pameolik's father had an agreement with Inukpaujaq's parents before, that Pameolik would marry Inukpaujaq. So Pameolik went to get Inukpaujaq as his wife and took her away from Ujaraq. Ujarak also got a second wife. ... So the Awa family has two grandparents which makes us a big family two ways.”

Another grandchild tells the story slightly differently: “Inukpauyak was arranged to marry Pameolik from childhood. But, Uyarak had taken Inukpauyak back to the Igloolik area. Weather permitting, a few years later, the head of Pameolik's group along with Pameolik went to pick up Inukpauyak and there are stories of a fight that broke out while the two were traveling on their dog teams. Inukpauyak was probably pregnant with [her second child.]”

Inukpaujaq died about 1992 of natural causes.

 

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