Jushua Kautaq Illauq (1947 – 2025)

Jushua Kautaq Illauq was born in a qammaq near Pond Inlet at the end of December. He has been a survivor ever since. Being brought up by his grandmother, Kanangnak, in their family hunting camps, he learned full Inuktitut language and culture and hunting skills as a child and teenager. He had his first dog team as a pre-teen and by the time he was 16 he was hunting alone with his dogs. His hunting and survival skills continued to be sharpened by his grandmother, his uncles and other relatives. After working for some time on oil rigs with an Edmonton company, Pan Arctic, Jushua went to Nanisivik Mines and became a heavy equipment mechanic as well as driver. His land skills informed his driving so that he became an expert driver and trainer and foreman of the other heavy equipment operators and miners. He taught his children, Ben and Aliqa, as much of the land skills he knew as possible. He was the president and chief guide of Qullikkut Guides and Outfitters from 1990–2002 and was the president of Apitak Development Corporation in Clyde River, NU. Jushua specializes in not only surviving challenging situations, like boating incidents, and other adventures on the land, but he has also studied how to thrive in life, despite challenges he has faced head on, living “in the South. Jushua brings to life the wealth of language and cultural memory and knowledge that he has gained throughout his long and very eventful life and shares this wisdom on a daily basis as an Elder in residence at Isaruit Inuit Arts. Jushua is the main speaker for the Inuit Artists’ Consultations, every Tuesday, available live through Zoom and recorded on Isaruit’s You Tube Channel. He is also a creator of soapstone carvings, particularly the ’Dancing Walrus “motif that he and Alooloo Inutiq came up with during the International Year of the Handicapped in 1981. Jushua works full-time as an Elder Consultant to individuals and groups of participants, and is the main speaker in the weekly Isaruit Inuit Artists” Elders Consultations, every Tuesday afternoon.