Stephen Angulalik

Stephen Angulalik (born ca. 1895 - 1980) was an internationally known Ahiarmiut Inuit from northern Canada notable as a Kitikmeot fur trader and trading post operator at Kuugjuaq (Perry River), Northwest Territories. His stories and photos were carried by journals and periodicals worldwide.

Early life

Angulalik was born less than 30 miles away to the west, in the vicinity of Kuunnuaq (Ellice River) on the Queen Maud Gulf, Northwest Territories, now Nunavut, to Caribou Inuit parents Oakoak (father) and Okalitaaknahik (mother). In 1923, he lived in Kiilinngujaq (Kent Peninsula), near a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) post, opened in 1920, run by Hugh Clarke, and notable as the most remote HBC post of the Canadian Arctic. Angulalik learned the fur trading business from Clarke. In 1926, Clarke and George Porter opened a Canalaska trading post for owner Captain C. T. Pedersen in Perry River, probably because of Ahiarmiut relocation to that area, the Kent Peninsula caribou becoming scarce. In addition to the trading post, Clarke built a home for Angulalik, ensuring Ahiarmiut loyalty to the Canalaska post, rather than an HBC post a few miles away.

Career

Two years later, in 1928, when new laws forced the closure of both posts, Angulalik continued as a independent trader, supplied by Canalaska. When Pedersen sold his company to the HBC, the sale included a provision for HBC in Cambridge Bay to continue supplying trade goods to Angulalik. In 1929, Angulalik sailed to Herschel Island and purchased a schooner, the ‘’Tudlik’’, from Canalaska, using the ‘’Tudlik’’ during his career to transport goods from Cambridge Bay or Herschel Island to his trading post.

"There were odd things in his store, such as parasols and umbrellas for which the Eskimos had an intriguing new use. When covered with white cotton, they made conveniently packaged shields; behind them a hunter could creep up on a sleeping seal on the spring ice."(Copland 1985: 227).

Angulalik's trade partner included distant Inuit bands such as the Hanningajurmiut of Back River, Hanningajuq meaning "sideways" or "crooked", referring to the river flow from east to west. The Hanningajurmiut were called the Ualininmiut (people from area of which the sun follows east to west) by their Caribou Inuit neighbors of the north, the Utkusiksalinmiut. He also traded with the Illuilirmiut of Illuiliq from Adelaide Peninsula. As these Inuit were located between Angulalik's Perry River post and the Gjoa Haven HBC post, Angulalik set up an outpost closer to them at Sherman Inlet to secure their business. It was run by Angulalik's adopted son, George Oakoak, from 1948 to 1955.

There was no polygamy taboo amongst the Ahiarmiut. By October 1937, Angulalik had two wives and the three of them were pictured in Life Magazine. Angulalik's first wife was named Kuptana; she died in 1939. His second wife was Koloahok; she died in 1938. No longer a polygamist, Ahiarmiut was baptised "Stephen" in 1938, according to Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sargent Henry Larsen. In 1941, Angulalik married Mabel Ekvana with whom he raised a large family.

"Inuit had used this area to trap foxes. I have gone trapping with Angulalik when we were just married. A long time ago on this river, [Perry River] we would set traps all along the shores of this river. When he ran the post, he enjoyed travelling and setting traps... we would travel up river not very far and set up traps with help from young men. He would always have someone helping him all the time. We would set traps along the coast by Sherman Inlet (Mabel Ervana Angulalik, Kuukyuak 5)."

A crisis event occurred in Angulalik's life New Year’s Eve 1956, when he stabbed the man Otoetok, in self-defense. While Otoetok’s wounds were minor, leaving them untended resulted in his painful death January 4, 1957, leading Angulalik to sell his Perry River trading operations to the HBC the same year. Judge John Sissons presided over the murder trial in Cambridge Bay and Angulalik was acquitted. He returned to the Perry River post and worked with the new young manager, Red Pedersen, who became a lifelong friend. Angulalik stayed there until post closure in 1967.

Awards

• 1935, King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
• 1953, Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

References

• Keith, D., Stephen Angulalik: Kitikmeot Fur Trader. 2004. Kitikmeot Heritage Society (Full text plus photos)
• Copland, A. Dudley. Coplalook Chief Trader, Hudson's Bay Company, 1923-1939. Winnipeg, Man: Watson & Dwyer, 1985. ISBN 0920486126

Further reading

• McGrath, Robin. A Northern Biography, Stephen Angulalik, (1895-1980). S.l: s.n, 1981.

External links

• Maps
  • Perry River
  • Ellice River
• Photo