Kuujjuarapik ᑰᔾᔪᐊᕌᐱᒃ

A community of nearly 800 people situated at the southern edge of the ancestral Inuit hunting grounds and at the northern edge of Cree territory, Kuujjuaraapik (the small great river) has been, since the signing of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, the only place in Nunavik where people of the two communities live together.

Both peoples are deeply attached to their respective cultures. At the time the Federation was created, there even existed two separate cooperatives on this territory, each serving their own community.

Both were therefore invited to join the ranks of the FCNQ when it was founded, each having a representative on the federation's board of directors.

It was only later, in 1967, that the Cree cooperative decided to merge with the Inuit one in order to create a single cooperative to serve both communities.

Today, this cooperative still includes members from both communities without distinction. Whatever their origin, anyone can become a member, be elected to the local board or even represent the cooperative on FCNQ's board of directors.

Furthermore, as provided by an FCNQ amendment, the Kuujjuarapik cooperative is exceptionally represented by a person from each community sitting on the federation's board.

The Art
The carvers from Kuujjuarapik will often work with argillite (sometimes called Sanikiluaq stone), and will carve in a minimalistic but smooth and refined style due to the hardness of the stone. They will often intricately assemble small pieces together to make scenes on stone bases.

The styles of the art and crafts are heavily influenced by the neighboring Cree community. The craft have a quality in their symbolism that is easy for all to understand and enjoy.

Notable artists (past and present) include:

• Syollie Awp Amittu (1936-1986)
• Daniel Kumarluk (1961-)
• Lucy Meeko (1929-2004)
• Noah Meeko (1928-2004)
• Henry Napartuk (1932-1985)
• Annie Niviaxie (1930-1989)
• Rupert Weetaltuk (1938-)