New appointments to the Order of Canada

MONTREAL — Artist Kiawak Ashoona from Cape Dorset is among the 81 new inductees in the Order of Canada announced earlier this week by Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson.

Ashoona, named as an officer of the order, began carving in the early 1950s, and his work was first exhibited in 1953. Since then, he has exhibited around the world in galleries and his art can be found in many museum collections.

In 1980, one of his sculptures, called “Sedna” was reproduced on a 17-cent stamp. A carving of his was also presented to U.S. President Ronald Reagan when he visited Toronto in 1988.

In 1997, Ashoona received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

Author Dorothy Harley Eber was also appointed as a member of the Order of Canada.

Eber is the author of several books on the Arctic, including When the Whalers were up North, Pitseolak: Pictures of my life, Images of Justice and People from Our Side, with Peter Pitseolak.