Our Team

Aija Komangapik is a young Inuk digital and graphic artist who is keenly interested in working in the field of visual arts both as an artist and as an arts worker. At present Aija is taking a pause from her study of Arts Administration at Bishop’s University to study soapstone sculpture with her father, Ruben Komangapik and to work as a tech assistant for Isaruit. In 2019 her work entitled “Drumdancer” Aija was the 1st place winner of the 19–29 age category in the Indigenous arts and stories award by Historica Canada, and she has worked in numerous publications, such as her 2021 release My Hood’s not big enough! with Inhabit Media. Along with her many logos and illustrations. She also designed a new $20 coin for the Canadian Mint  in 2024. Aija is presently living and working in the Ottawa area and is Israruit’s Seal Products and Youth Facilitator.

Asenath Kannutaq was born near Hall Beach Nunavut and grew up in outpost camp, only moving there in her teens. Asenath went to Atanaarjuaq high school until grade 8 and then worked as the 1st postmistress at the Hall beach post office until the birth of her 1st child. Asenath learned how to sew parkas from her older sister and would give them to her family or keep them for herself. At her jobs, she learned patience and kindness towards her customers and the general public, which she utilizes to this day. She learned to overcome her shy nature through her work. Kannutaq says her passion for the arts started from her children. Having to sew mittens, boots, clothing, etc. made her work harder and grew her love for the craft. Asenath works at the centre as an elder consultant and as a sewing instructor for the local Inuit community.

Ben Illauq grew up in Clyde River, hunting and travelling with his father, Jushua Illauq, and going camping with his family through the spring and summer months. He also worked from the time he was 13 with his father as a guide and an interpreter for Qullikkut Guides and Outfitters, his family’s guiding business. When he was growing up, Ben travelled on the land a good part of the time, at all seasons of the year. He became very skilled in all kinds of cultural skills, from hunting and trapping, to travelling, from storytelling to food preparation, from walking on the land to qimmusiq over the ice, from surviving on breaking ice to guiding Nat Geographic photographers into the fiords. In 2005 Ben moved south first to the Regina area and then to the Ottawa area, where he worked in the meat-cutting industry and then became fascinated with building construction and all the trades converging in that industry. Today Ben continues to practise his land skills in a southern forest context and is bringing up his family in an Inuit way. Ben also works as the Shop Programs Coordinator for Isaruit, and coordinates the Isaruit Inuit Elders Consultation program. He is Isaruit’s Health and Safety Committee coordinator.

Beverly is one of the four founding Grandmothers of Inuit families of Isaruit.  Born to English parents, in the Toronto area, Beverly grew up in mainstream culture, and has a teaching degree. After having taught school in Schefferville and Igloolik, and having worked for Northern Affairs for the federal government for several years, she married into the Apitak family in Clyde River in 1985. After living in Clyde River for 19 years and having the privilege to help found Ilisaqsivik Society/  Family Resource Centre  there, Beverly now lives in the Ottawa area and continues to develop Isaruit Inuit Arts Centre as the Centre Coordinator. 

David Erkloo was born in Arctic Bay and raised in Pond Inlet. He moved to Iqaluit to pursue his high school education. David graduated from Gordon Roberston Education Center in 1979 and then took the carpentry trade at Fort Smith NWT. Erkloo then used his degree to work as a carpenter back in Pond Inlet. He says he helped build new construction, maintenance and contracting for his home town for two decades. David says his love of art came from his needs as a hunter. As a hunter, he had to make and maintain his tools, which he spends these days teaching the younger generations at the centre. Erkloo teaches his student how to make traditional Inuit tools as a shop Instructor at Isaruit Inuit Arts.

Gina Iqaalik was born in Iqaluit and raised in the beautiful community of Qikiqtarjuaq. She currently works as a Hospitality Coordinator with Isaruit, where she helps support Inuit and Northern community members living in the south. Gina has always enjoyed keeping herself busy, especially when it involves helping others. For example, she worked at Canadian North, with a focus on strengthening health safety and awareness, and improved her administration, coordination, and communication skills.

Throughout her work in the south, she has become a strong advocate by challenging mainstream food policies that do not support Inuit wellness, and promoting Inuit policies that increase access to Inuit country food. In fact, one of her biggest passions is sharing food- especially country food-with those who may not have access to it. Living down south, she knows how hard it can be to find traditional foods, and that’s why she makes it a priority to provide meals that bring comfort, connections, and a strong sense of home.

One of the proudest moments in her work was organizing a large event where she prepared and served country food for the community. It was an incredible experience to see people come together to enjoy traditional meals,share stories, and feel that connection to Inuit culture. Feeding others, especially when they are missing that taste of home, truly makes her happy. For Gina, food is more than just a nourishment-it's about love, tradition, and bringing people together. Whether she’s organizing events, supporting community programs, or cooking a meal for someone in need, she is proud to give back in a way that honours who we are as Inuit.

Gina is presently working as Isauit’s Hospitality Coordinator in our Pulaaqvik, and she and her team to keep our Drop In visitors fed and comfortable every Friday afternoon.

Jackie began working at Isaruit as a carver and a decorated ulu maker.  When the carving side of our shop was closed in January, he began to develop his painting and then print making skills. Jackie is presently  Isaruit’s resident painter and print maker.

Jarome began coming to isaruit as youth to hang out with Inuit, and after completing a term in Policing Studies at Algonquin College began to serve as Security at Isaruit.  We value his conscientious care of participants and staff. Jarome is also involved in the Youth Inuit Games program on Wednesday afternoons.

Jeanie comes from Pond Inlet, and has been Acting Coordinator of the Sewing Program since April, 2025 

Jessie Kangok is an Inuk born and raised in Igloolik Nunavut. When she was 16, Jessie moved to Ottawa with her family. Since moving to Ottawa, Jessie has been involved as an active member of the Ottawa Inuit Community, working in various roles with Tungasugvvigat Inuit and the Inuuqatigiit.  Jessie  is a mother of three teenage children, and  is currently a stay at home mother.  As the founder of Uqallagvik, the Inuit radio station in Ottawa, Jessie continues to work part time as a Radio Host and Producer for the Ottawa Uqallagvik CKCU 93.1 F.M. that broadcasts for an hour every Wednesday at noon. Jessie enjoys being connected with her Inuit community here in Ottawa and watching her children learn their Inuit Culture and Language.  Although she thought she would lose her identity when she moved to the big city of Ottawa as a teenager, Jessie is committed to letting other Inuit know that they can find a comfortable place to be in Ottawa, where an Inuk can find the same community feeling she felt growing up in her home community of Igloolik, by being connected with other Inuit living here in the city of Ottawa. Jessie continues to advocate firmly and productively for the support of the Inuit Community of Ottawa since joining the Board of Directors of Isaruit Inuit Arts in August, 2021.

Jimmy Kuniliusie works in Isaruit’s shop, and makes palaugaq for Drop Ins. 

John Houston is an award-winning Documentary Director originally from Nunavut. He now lives in Halifax, but remains fluent in Inuktitut, his storytelling deeply influenced by his upbringing between Inuit and Qallunaat (Settler) cultures. In his current film: “ATAUTSIKUT / LEAVING NONE BEHIND,” Nunavimmiut (Inuit and Cree of Northern Québec) recounts their struggle and how their co-ops came to shine through—a message of hope. Project interests include the Indigenous oral tradition, self-empowerment, and social justice. John works with Isaruit as an Inuit Art Consultant and supports Isaruit staff.

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.

Kaujak comes from Pond Inlet and was the first person to join Isaruit staff as a Roots Elders consultant.

Natasha Latreille is Chair of the Isaruit Inuit Arts: Pijunarnivut Board of Directors. First elected as Chair of the Board at the AGM in January 2021, Natasha brings to Isaruit fifteen years experience as the Office Administrator and Project Coordinator of the Canadian contingent of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, during which time she travelled throughout the Circumpolar world in the capacity of advocating for Inuit globally.  Having worked in a number of administrative positions in retail in the South, Natasha presently works as a Logistician for Nasittuq Corporation, Nunavut. Natasha was raised in her mother’s home town of Iqaluit and presently lives and works in Carleton Place with her family. Natasha is committed to making Isaruit Inuit Arts a national force representing and supporting Inuit artists.

Billy Merkosak was born and raised by his grandparents in Mitimatalik, Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut. Travelling extensively on the land as a child, Billy developed excellent land skills and Inuit cultural skills at an early age, and managed to graduate from Grade 10 as well.  Billy began drawing and sculpting bone, stone and ivory at an early age, and has become a prolific and experienced Inuit artist whose works are well known and sought after both nationally and internationally. Billy’s passion is to support the development of Inuit creators.  As a former Board member of NACCA, Billy eagerly works with the Isaruit Inuit Arts Board of Directors, helping to bring forward the challenges and the needs of Inuit artists living in the North.  Billy continues to live and work in Mitimatalik with his family. When he is not out on the land fishing or hunting, or away participating in meetings of the various Nunavut committees, he is invited to attend.

Donovan Gordon-Tootoo is in his third term   Donovan was raised in Rankin Inlet , going to school during the winter, and going boating and camping on the land for the summers with his father and extended family. Boating and fishing continue to be Donovan’s favorite activities.  After attending Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa for two years after graduating from high school, Donovan entered Carleton University in an Indigenous Enriched Support Program, and transferred to a Bachelor of Arts Program there within a year.  Donovan was then accepted into an internship with the  Inuit Youth Leadership Program for a summer at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and became employed full time as a Policy Analyst there soon after.  Donovan enjoys living in Ottawa, particularly as he becomes more integrated into the Ottawa Inuit Community.  He  finds that visiting Isaruit keeps him connected with the richness of Inuit community and keeps him grounded in his Inuk identity.  Being with Isaruit also helps him find his voice to advocate on behalf of Inuit, in culture, education, government policies, the arts and etcetera.  Donovan particularly enjoys drumming, Inuit games and creating.