Pits qimirpik biography

 (1986- ) | Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Pitseolak Qimirpik was born on July 26th, 1986 in Iqaluit, Nunavut. He was born in Iqaluit like almost all children born in the community of Cape Dorset after 1975. Very few births still happen in Cape Dorset as there is no hospital in the community.

As a child Pitseolak would go out camping and hunting, living on the land during spring and summer with his family. Pits’ grandfather Qimirpik produced some carvings and drawings over his lifetime. His uncle Allashua Atsiaq carved as did his cousin Noo Atsiaq and Pitseloak’s older brother Moe sometimes carves inuksuks.

The biggest influence for Pitseolak has been his father Kellypalik Qimirpik.

Pitseolak Qimirpik: the life of an Inuit master carver - The Spec

Kellypallik is well known for his dancing sculptures and Pits likes his father’s dancing musk ox carvings the best. Pitseolak would help his father and mother with filing and sanding his dad’s carvings. Kellypalik went to Polar North in Montreal for a while to carve when Pits wa Pitsiulaq Qimirpik - Inuit Artists MESAF