Yellowknife (Oct 27/03) - Shem Ootoova was the first member of the Toonoonik-Sahoonik Co-op and that is how he will be remembered.

On Mon., Oct. 20, Ootoova died in his sleep. He was 72 years old.

Ootoova was one of the leaders who helped bring the community-owned store to Pond Inlet 35 years ago. Because of his achievements, he will be missed by the community.

"It's hard when you lose an icon in the community like Mr. Ootoova," said Chris Mitchell, manager of the Co-op store in Pond Inlet.

"He was member one in the Co-op and that was how he will be remembered," he said.

Because of Ootoova and the other founding members, Mitchell said Pond Inlet has one of the largest Co-ops in Nunavut.

"He had a vision and he saw the merit of a business owned by the community," he said.

Ootoova was born on April 6, 1930. He settled in Pond Inlet around 1963.

He was married twice -- both of his wives have passed away -- and had a total of 14 children, four with his first wife and 10 with his second. He had 36 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren.

None of his family members contacted by News/North wished to comment about Ootoova.