While there were many talented artists throughout the Kitikmeot region, most toiled in relative obscurity until the early 1980s. Although many of these early artists have since claimed their rightful place in the history of Inuit art, many others remain virtually unknown. The Inuit Artist Database, compiled by the (then) Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (now Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada), includes only prolific artists whose works appeared in gallery exhibitions or were featured in books or catalogues.

This striking sculpture of a drummer, though clearly signed, is likely by the hand of an artist who flew under the radar and is potentially a “one-hit wonder.” Stylistically typical of early Uqsuqtuuq (Gjoa Haven) sculpture, the work features an intriguing mix of materials. The body is carved from hard local stone, while the mittened hands are made from a softer stone brought into the community in the 1970s. The drum and beater are carved from polished muskox horn. While not all drummers are shamans, the presence of a small bird at the subject’s feet might conceivably represent a spirit helper.