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NNSL Photo

Tim Pisiulak, left, hammered a precious gem into place while Seemeega Aqpik held the earring steady. The two are taking a jewelry course in Kimmirut. - photo courtesy of Allyson Simmie

Lake Harbour man a cut above

Kathleen Lippa
Northern News Services

Lake Harbour (Feb 23/04) - Tim Pisiulak, 36, is a hunter, carver, painter and father of five kids. Now he can add jewelry maker to the list since joining the jewelry course in his hometown of Kimmirut.

"I have always wanted to try jewelry," said Pisiulak, speaking on the phone from the jewelry studio at Arctic College in Kimmirut.

"I find it very challenging, and challenging is good for me."

Pisiulak said he gets ideas for his creations from his imagination.

His favourite piece of work so far is a wolf pendant.

"Sometimes I have to do some drawings before I do the work," he said. "Doing a drawing first helps a lot."

Pisiulak also made a ring recently that he simply calls "warmth," inspired by the unusually warm winter Kimmirut has been having.

"In January the weather was pretty warm. I had a good feeling on that warm day," he said.

"The weather was perfect and I was in a good mood."

Born and raised in Kimmirut, Pisiulak has chosen to live off the land and use his talents.

"I didn't go to high school," he said. "My father was ill. And that year he was going to pass away he told me, 'Son, I want you to stay because I need you.' So I decided to stay. And ever since I have been hunting and carving and painting. He once told me that I will grow up to be a good hunter and that everything he taught me I should keep in mind."

Over the years, Pisiulak has taught acrylic painting to high school students.

"If I can't do a drawing, I usually go for a little walk and get my ideas from whatever I see. I get back my thoughts."

The jewelry students in Kimmirut are preparing to show their work in March. It's the second part a course now under the guidance of Allyson Simmie of Nova Scotia.

Kimmirut has an abundance of gem stones ranging from chrome diopside, a clear lime-green stone; to sapphires and lapis lazuli, an opaque cobalt blue stone -- all of which the students now work with.