Nelson Takkiruq belonged to the famous triumvirate of Kitikmeot artist-brothers which included Judas Ullulaq (Lot 49) and Charlie Ugyuk (Lot 35). He was, however, adopted out at birth and did not meet his brothers until he was an adult. Nelson and Judas became close and shared a lively sense of humour and positive attitude; they even looked strikingly similar. Takkiruq apparently began carving in the early 1950s, selling small works in bone and antler to local missionaries. He sold work to the local co-op regularly in the 1970s and, influenced by the style and success of Judas (who joined him in Gjoa Haven in 1982), he also became a major sculpting talent, carving right until his death in 1999. [1}

The Netsilingmiut of the eastern Kitikmeot region were the last Inuit group to be influenced by Christianity and settled village life. It’s not surprising, therefore, that the currents of shamanism and the supernatural ran deep in the art of this region right through to the end of the 20th century. This impressive tattooed figure probably depicts a dancing and chanting female shaman summoning a helping spirit. The mask-like spirit face is carved from a vertebra whose naturally occurring winged shape suggests that it’s a bird spirit. Like Ullulaq, Takkiruq carved both stone and bone, and enjoyed mixing materials for heightened psychological and aesthetic effect.