SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - "I thought his work was very amazing," Linda Charlie, 11, told Yellowknifer during the Territorial Heritage Fair Showcase at the museum, where she had a project set up displaying the artwork and carvings of her father, Inuk Charlie.

Pictured here on May 14 at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Linda Charlie, 11, holds a picture of her dad, Inuk Charlie, herself as a baby, and her mom with the mace of the legislative assembly of Nunavut in 1999. Inuk was one of the artists who created the mace. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

Even though she has only been speaking English as a primary language for the past year, Linda spoke well and was able to give a thorough history of her father's life. She spoke mainly Inuktitut before moving to Yellowknife from Taloyoak.

Linda said her father "began carving when he was seven years old ... he had to make his own toys."

He now makes jewelry and carvings. Among the projects Inuk worked on are the mace of the legislative assembly of Nunavut, and a nine-foot-tall polar bear which currently stands outside the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, Michigan.

A large carving by her father also stands in Iqaluit, titled "Set Free," which Linda said symbolized her father freeing himself from the effects of going through the residential school system, and from abuse inflicted upon him by his father.

Linda referred to her dad as "one of the best carvers" in the world, and said she was very proud of him. She said he was raised in the nomadic way of life, and that helps influence his traditional-style carvings.