Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) Vice President, James Eetoolook, deeply regrets the passing of Louie Kamookak of Gjoa Haven, Nunavut.
“Louie was a well-loved and deeply respected hunter and historian with a life-long commitment to promoting and preserving Inuit culture and history. Louie enlightened others by revealing, from an Inuit perspective, the history of interactions between Inuit and the explorers.” said Eetoolook.
Louie was an avid participant and strong supporter of the searches for the lost ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, and his work contributed to solving the mystery of the fate of the lost Franklin expedition.
In 2017, Louie was made a Member of the Order of Nunavut and the Order of Canada. He has also received the Government of Canada’s Polar Medal and the Inuit Heritage Trust Recognition Award.
Louie was a treasure trove of stories and information that he collected from the elders of Gjoa Haven. Stretching over four decades, Louie’s passion began through his captivation in high school with the explorers’ accounts of their travels in his homeland, and their encounters with Inuit on King William Island and environs.
His research and work will live on in the archives of Canadian and Nunavut history. He will be deeply missed.
For further information:
Karen Flaherty
A/Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Tel: (867) 975-4900 Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006
