Obituary Simon Akpaleeapik: One of Grise Fiord’s founding residents
LARRY AUDLALUK
Nunatsiaq News
IQALUIT — In the early morning of September 25, the High Arctic lost one of its first permanent residents, Simon Akpaleeapik of Pond Inlet.
The people of Grise Fiord will forever be grateful to him for his co-founding of the community after the 1953 relocation.
He was one of the first leaders of Grise Fiord, including positions such as: first president of the co-op in 1960, first ITC representative in the 1970s, one of the first members of the settlement council, and one of two people to make a snowmobile trek to Qaanaaq, Greenland from Grise Fiord in April of 1970.
I had the privilege of serving with him on the High Arctic Relocation Trust from 1994.
Through hardship and toil, he helped found Grise Fiord in 1953. On the first trading trip to Craig Harbour from where we were dropped off at Lindstrom Peninsula in the fall of that year, the little groups of men almost didn’t come home when the ice they were travelling on was blown away by strong winds.
He travelled widely by dog-team for many years as part of his orientation to the region after being relocated to the High Arctic, until he adopted the use of snowmobiles in 1968. On one sovereignty patrol with the RCMP, he went as far as Aunatok, Greenland near Etah with Bob Pilot on a single dog-team.
I learned much from him about running a good dog team. Many will remember him for taking photojournalist Fred Breummer on a trip in 1967, in the book “The Long Hunt.”
When one looks at Grise Fiord and the surrounding country (all the way from Qaanaaq, Greenland to Resolute Bay), his footprints are all over the place.
He is survived by one son and many, many nephews and nieces, and a whole slew of grandchildren.
We will miss you “qunngak,” but we will not forget you. Thank you for having been with us. Rest in peace.
(0) Comments