Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (Aug 01/05) - Stephen Angulalik's family is bursting with pride. Angulalik, who died in 1980, was likely the first Inuit fur trader in Nunavut and his accomplishments have been spotlighted at the Kitikmeot Heritage Society Museum.

The Cambridge Bay museum opened its Angulalik exhibit on July 1. with many of his children, grand-children and great grand-children in attendance.

Gwen Angulalik, Stephen's daughter, thinks her father can serve as an example to the youth of today.

She said that his example shows "even though you are an Inuk, you can be whatever you want to be. Follow your dreams."

His daughter enjoyed the walk down memory lane.

"It's pretty neat, they did a really good job," said Gwen, who named one of her sons after her father.

Stephen worked with the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) and the Canalaska Trading Company in the 1920s. In 1928, when those posts were closed, he opened his own post in Perry River, possibly making him the first Inuit entrepreneur.

While known as a tough dealer with the companies, he was known as a giving man by the community.

"My mom says he had a big heart," said his granddaughter Shauna Angulalik. "When a family was in need, they knew they could go to him."

Shauna wishes that she could have met her grand-father. "I've heard so many great stories. He was a typical Inuk man that wanted to do something on his own."

He was famous all over the North, receiving the King George silver jubilee medal in 1935 and the Queen Elizabeth II coronation medal in 1953.

His schooner Tudlik was famous all over the North and Angulalik cut a dashing figure with his clothes imported from the finest outlets in the south.

The Tudlik is still found today in Kugluktuk, run aground.

In 1957, Angulalik was charged with murder after a stabbing at a New Year's Eve party. The man was not seriously injured, but did not take care of his wounds, and he died a painful death from a strangulated bowel.

Stephen was acquitted of murder, but was forced to sell the operation to the HBC. He remained employed at the Perry River post until it closed 1967.

The woman behind the man

His wife is a major part of the Angulalik legend. Mabel Ekvana Angulalik was abandoned as a baby, left outdoors to freeze because her family couldn't provide for her.

She was raised by an adoptive family. When she met Stephen in 1941, he was swept off his feet by her and by her sewing. They were soon married.

"He was the softer one. When I compare him to my mother, my father was the talker," said Gwen.