Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a respected Pangnirtung elder and distinguished artist, Malaya Akulukjuk, who passed away recently. Malaya was born in 1913 at Qikiqtaq, outside Pangnirtung. She was married to Nutaralaaq and had 13 children. In the 1960s, she and her family moved to Pangnirtung following an epidemic which killed most of their sled dogs.
She started drawing for the local co-op shortly after her arrival. Her striking illustrations were always based on her own life and Inuit legends. Malaya was involved with the Pangnirtung weave shop right from the beginning. Recently, the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts celebrated their 25th anniversary with a beautiful collection of tapestries, all based on Malaya Akulukjuk's designs. The anniversary celebrations were held in her honour.
Malaya was known for her kindness and generosity, and also known for her skills as a midwife, seamstress and hunter. Whether it was making kamiks, caring for the sick, sharing food and clothing, comforting and assisting women in labour, Malaya was there.
She was a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will forever live in the hearts of her family and community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.