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IQALUIT
Three carvers will be making their way to Iqaluit in early June to start developing the monument that will find its home at the Four Corners intersection in front of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s headquarters.

Guy Architects' schematic design of the landscape layout outside the Igluvut building in downtown Iqaluit. The architect company was selected to join the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.'s joint project to design a commemoration project to honour the 20th anniversary of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. - photo courtesy of Guy Architects

With an unveiling date of July 9, 2013, 10 weeks this summer and 10 weeks next will be what it takes to complete the piece of art to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

To recognize the major landmark in Inuit and Canadian history, NTI commissioned one carver from each region of Nunavut to work together on the large granite boulder: Inuk Charlie of Taloyoak in the Kitikmeot region, Paul Malliki of Repulse Bay in the Kivalliq, and Looty Pijamini of Grise Fiord in the Qikiqtaaluk. Once completed, the monument will stand 15 feet high, 10 feet long and eight feet wide.

"We each got our side that we're going to be working on," said Pijamini from his home in Grise Fiord.

"I got this one side -- I'm going to do a big face and I'm going to do a muskox and a man, a seal."

He at first planned on have a whale on his side of the monument as well, but is changing it to a mermaid.

"The mermaid is a legend of the whole North; everybody knows about it. We have animals already on it, that represent food ... The mermaid will be representing a legend of the story that has been up North for a long time. I think it should be on it," he said.

The design tells the story of how Inuit have had to adapt while maintaining their traditions. The bottom features an iglu and sod house while the middle has a drum dancer, a woman wearing an amauti, a raven, a muskox, a walrus, seals, birds and an Arctic hare. On its peak sit two people lighting a qulliq – which Pijamini said is important to Northern life and culture.

NTI announced Pijamini, Malliki and Charlie as the master carvers last spring and they came to the capital to create a model of their future project out of clay. In the next few months, the idea will become a reality.

"The carving part is the easy part. Trying to come up with what you're going to make is the hardest part," he said.

Each carver is able to choose a youth apprentice to help with the project. Pijamini chose his 24-year-old son, Matthew.

Cathy Towtongie, president of NTI, said the monument is being developed to commemorate the "decades of tireless work of everyone who helped conceive, negotiate, and now implement the NLCA."

"It will become a piece of art that illustrates to the world what was accomplished by Inuit. I look forward to seeing the creation. This will be such a tribute to the efforts of everyone involved with the NLCA."

Currently, NTI is working with the City of Iqaluit on a building permit for the monument. The project includes more than the carving – an entire streetscape is planned outside the Igluvut building. The design, developed by Guy Architects, includes a landscape layout to accommodate the large NTI monument as well as several medium monuments commissioned by Qikiqtaaluk Corporation. There will be public seating and gathering spaces as well as night lighting.

Pricing of both the monument itself and the streetscape project are still in the works.

Guy Architects is in the process of applying for a building permit for the streetscape but have already presented to city council which approved the current scheme, according to Sofia Dobrev of the architectural firm.

"We are in the process of applying for a building permit but have already presented to City Council members and they all approve of the current scheme."

"The design itself is meant to promote Inuit art and culture and encourage public participation by providing gathering and seating space," she said.

Pijamini said he has seen images of the entire project that will surround his carving and approves as well.

"It's going to be nice. It's going to be a little park where people can go have a place to sit and walk around," he said.

The project's goals are to enhance vibrancy of downtown Iqaluit, promote Inuit culture through public art and allow for a public gathering space with gardens and seating – making the Four Corners intersection a cultural destination.

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