Woman with Qulliq

Inukjuak
Stone
15.5” x 11” x 7”

In this evocative sculpture by first generation Inukjuak artist Simeonie Weetaluuktuk, an Inuk woman stands holding a qulliq—a traditional stone oil lamp—next to her head. Her expression is serene, almost meditative, the hood of her amauti drawn over her head. With her right hand, she lifts the qulliq, a symbol of warmth, nourishment, and the endurance of Inuit life in the Arctic.

The sculpture captures more than a figure: it encapsulates an entire way of life. The qulliq was far more than a tool—it was the heart of the home during the long, lightless winter months. Burning seal oil from blubber, it was the sole source of heat, light, and the flame that cooked food and dried clothes. Its glow made survival possible, and in many homes, it was tended to with a spiritual sense of responsibility.

Weetaluuktuk, who began carving in the 1950s alongside his brothers Sarollie and Eli, brought deep personal experience to his art. Raised at Kangirqsukallaq Camp and later its leader, Simeonie’s life as a hunter and provider profoundly shaped his artistic vision. This sculpture is a tribute to the quiet fortitude of Inuit women and the essential role of the qulliq in Inuit survival and cultural continuity.