Helen Kalvak
First Name: Helen
Last Name: Kalvak
Biography (English): Helen Kalvak RCA was a Copper Inuk graphic artist from Ulukhaqtuuq [Holman], Northwest Territories, Canada. Her father Halukhit encouraged her spiritual gifts and taught her to be an angatkuq (the equivalent of a spiritual healer in Inuit culture). Although Kalvak later converted to Christianity, she continued to reflect her traditional Inuit religion in her artwork, along with the stories which she had learned as a child. In 1960, Kalvak moved to Ulukhaqtuuq after the sudden death of her husband, Edward Manayok. There in 1961 she helped a Roman Catholic priest, Rev. Henri Tardy, set up the Holman Eskimo Co-op. It was at this time that Kalvak began her artwork. In 1965, her artwork was turned into prints and sold throughout the world. Ten years later, in recognition of her work, Kalvak was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. This was followed in 1978 by her appointment to the Order of Canada. By 1978, Kalvak had produced an estimated 2,000 drawings. She was no longer able to use her hands due to Parkinson's disease. The following year, Canada Post used her work entitled The Dance for the 17¢ postage stamp. With 176 published prints, Kalvak is the Ulukhaqtuuq artist with the largest body of published work. At the time of her death in 1984, Kalvak was one of the few remaining Inuit women in Ulukhaqtuuq decorated with traditional beautifying facial kakiniq (tattoos). In 1984 a competition was held to rename the Ulukhaqtuuq Elihavik School and in 1985 it was renamed Helen Kalvak Elihakvik.
Biography (French): Halan Kiuvak Halan Kiuvak inuuliqtuminiq 1901 nunalinni Tasirjuarmi sinaanganiunngittuq Viktoria qikiqtangata, kanannangani Ulutsaqtuup, Nunatsiarmi. Niviaqsiangulluni ammalu ataatanga Haluqqit ammalu anaananga Inataumik, aullaaqattalauqsimajut ukiukkut sinaangani ammalu aujakkut nunaqpagiaqsutik. Ataatanga upigijammariulluni Angakkuulauqsimajuq qaujimajaminik pijunnarnirminillu qimakuqaqsuni panimminut. Piqqusituqarnik malitsutik, Kiuvak titiqtugangit sanngijummariit unikkaaqaqsutik ilisimajanginnik angajuqqaaminik. Takuguminaluarmitsuni, tamakkiinni titiqtuganginni ammalu titiqtugaliarisimajuni. angakkuq ikajuqtautillugu uumajuqutiminut uvvaluunniit tarniqutiminut uvvalu qaujimalitarminut. Kiuvak titiqtugaqattapallialilauqsimajuq paipaami 1960-ngutillugu, kinguningani aippanga inuugunniikallalauqtillugu taikanitsainnaq arraagumi, nunaqaqsutik sinaanik nunaliralaani. Takutsautitsisimajuq piqqusituqaqtigut inuusirmik ammalu annuraatuqarnik takutsautitsitsuni titiqtugarianngarmini. Taitsumanilu kamavatsuni, atigiliuqpatsuni, pualulivatsunilu Kuapakkunnut Ulutsaqtuurmi ammalu amisugalait titiqtugangit atuqtausimatsutik taqsarijautsutik qisinnut akinnarmiutarnut. Pigiaqtitsiqatausimatsutik Ulutsaqtuurmik titiqtugarnirmik titiqtugaliurnirmillu kuapakkunginni 1961-ngutillugu, aulajjattaugiarsuni Ataatamut Henry Tardy, Kiuvak titiqtugangit atuqtaulauqsimajut uutturautaullutik natsirajannut taqsaullutik 1962-ngutillugu. Akunningani 1965 ammalu 1985 ungataaniittut 176 titiqtugangit titiqtugaliangulauqsimajut, amisuuniqpaat amisuliarijausimajut Ulutsaqtuurmi sanaugaqtini. Titiqtugaqsimajangit nalautsaaqtausimajut 2000-ngugiangit 1962 ammalu 1978 akurnganni nukingit attuqtausimalauqtinnagit agganginni. Upigijaujummariulluni innarijaujuq ammalu pimmariulluni nunalinni, kasuumaniqallarilauqtuq atuutisimajaminut. Qaujimaninga piqqusirnik uppirijaujunillu angunasunnirmik, angakkumik qilaujjarnirmik ammalu asijjirunnarnirmik qimakugijaujut, takutsautsutik piusiusimajut saqqiqtausimajut uqausikkut piqqusiqtigullu. Kiuvak ilitarijaulauqsimajuq Royal Canadian Academy-kunnut 1975-ngutillugu ammalu ilitarijausimagilluni qutsiniqpaanut Kanatami 1978-ngutillugu. Halan Kiuvak tuqulauqsimajuq Mai 7, 1984.
Birth Year: 1901
Medium: printmaking
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