Flags at half-mast to honour Elder Qapik Attagutsiak
Today Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok released the following statement:
“In honour of beloved Nunavut Elder Qapik Attagutsiak, I have requested that all flags at Government of Nunavut buildings fly at half-mast until she is laid to rest.
My thoughts are with Qapik’s large extended family, the community of Arctic Bay, and all those who have been enriched by her extraordinary spirit.
Qapik’s contributions to the lives of Inuit and non-Inuit alike spans a century, from her earliest years, when as a child of 10 she learned midwifery, to her recent years, when she has so generously shared her time and her stories, as well as her language, culture, skills and knowledge. Qapik embodied Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Inuit societal values.
Qapik is a recipient in 2012 of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for significant contributions and achievements as an Inuk Canadian. She was later recognized in 2020 in a ceremony organized by Parks Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces at the Canadian Museum of History as a representative of wartime efforts by Inuit communities during World War II.
Her dedication to Inuit health, aside from her help in the births of hundreds of babies, led her to help in the establishment of the Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team – Medical Centre in Ottawa. Her extensive knowledge can also be found in academic studies for her efforts to improve health outcomes among Inuit living in cities.
Qapik will be missed and always remembered.”