Saumik is grieved in Cape Dorset

I have no doubt I speak for all of us here in Cape Dorset that with the news of the loss of James Houston, also known as “Saumik” (the left-handed one), everybody here in Cape Dorset has lost a real friend.

When we were notified of Saumik’s passing, the reaction in the community was the same as when we are notified of the death of a local member of the community.

Our grandparents and elders tell us he had a genuine love for the Inuit and he worked tirelessly to try and help the Inuit in whatever way he could. When he first saw a small carving by one of the locals, he was the one that saw the potential of this medium.

Driven by his desire to help the Inuit, coupled with his passion and enthusiasm for Inuit art, he set out to showcase this new form of art to the world and was received extraordinarily well, due in large part to his infectious enthusiasm.

The legacy of Saumik when it comes to helping the cause of Inuit is, in my opinion, unmatched. He was indeed the right man, in the right place, at the right time, and Cape Dorset will forever be grateful to have known him and he will always be a part of the community. Thank you.

Chris Pudlat
Cape Dorset