Larry Audlaluk

Larry Audlaluk CC (born 1953) is an Inuk activist and writer from Canada who was among those forcibly relocated during the High Arctic relocation program.[1] He was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2007.[2][3]

Larry Audlaluk

CC
Born1953
Inukjuak, Quebec
Notable worksWhat I Remember, What I Know: The Life of a High Arctic Exile (2020)

His memoir, What I Remember, What I Know: The Life of a High Arctic Exile, was a shortlisted finalist for the Governor General's Award for English-language non-fiction at the 2021 Governor General's Awards.[4]

Early life and relocation

Audlaluk was born in Inukjuak, Quebec in 1953. Audlaluk's family was one of several who were forcibly relocated by the Canadian government to Grise Fiord, Nunavut in the High Arctic relocation incident of the 1950s.[5]

His family struggled through poverty; Audlaluk sustained an eye injury in childhood and suffered pain for nearly four years before the federal government finally flew him to Montreal for medical treatment.[1] By 2008, Audlaluk would become Grise Fiord's longest-living resident.[3]

Activism and career

Audlaluk emerged as a community leader in adulthood,[6] and testified about his experiences to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in 1993.[7] Audlaluk unsuccessfully stood in the 2004 Nunavut general election in the Quttiktuq electoral district.[8]

Support for Israel

In 1996, Audlaluk traveled to Israel and was described as "the Holy Land’s best known Inuk" due to his appearances on local television.[9] In an article about the 2004 Nunavuk election, Nunatsiaq News stated that:[8]

"Audlaluk is also known for his frequent visits to the Holy Land where he’s become Israel’s favourite Inuk and Nunavut’s unofficial ambassador."

What I Remember, What I Know

What I Remember, What I Know was published in 2020.[5] In addition to the Governor General's Awards, the book was also shortlisted for the 2021 J. W. Dafoe Book Prize.[10]

Honors

In 2007, he was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada to honor his record of community service in Grise Fiord.[11][3]

References
  1. Michelle Lalonde, "Time can't erase horrible details of Inuit ordeal". Montreal Gazette, April 8, 1993.
  2. "Mr. Larry Audlaluk". Governor General of Canada. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  3. "Grise Fiord's Audlaluk inducted into Order of Canada". CBC. 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  4. "Ivan Coyote, David A. Robertson & Julie Flett among finalists for $25K Governor General's Literary Awards". CBC Books, October 14, 2021.
  5. Emma Tranter, "Larry Audlaluk tells a story of broken promises, healing in new book". Nunatsiaq News, September 17, 2020.
  6. William Marsden, "With a 1940s rifle, he stands on guard for thee". Montreal Gazette, October 5, 1985.
  7. "Inuit's relocation called 'cruel and inhumane'". Vancouver Sun, April 10, 1993.
  8. George, Jane (2004-02-06). "In Quttiktuq, it's who you know". Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  9. "Nunavut's year in review". Nunatsiaq News. 1997-01-03. Retrieved 2023-03-13. Larry Audlaluk of Grise Fiord travels to Israel and, thanks to Israeli television, becomes the Holy Land's best known Inuk.
  10. Bob Armstrong, "Non-fiction short list spans topics, genres". Winnipeg Free Press, May 15, 2021.
  11. "A host of new faces joins the Order". The Globe and Mail, December 29, 2007.
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