QAUSUITTUQ/RESOLUTE - Simeonie Amagoalik will be remembered for many things in Resolute and across the territory but perhaps his last and greatest achievement stands on the shores where he and his family arrived 58 years ago.

Amagoalik died at 5:30 a.m. on March 2 at the age of 77 surrounded by family in Resolute after a battle with cancer. He had been getting treatment in Ottawa but wanted to return home some months ago.

One of the carver's last and one of his biggest works is the monument commemorating the High Arctic relocatees - a life-sized granite carving of a man which was unveiled in September 2010.

"It will be a living memory and the monument will be his legacy," said James Eetoolook, vice-president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

Born May 1, 1933 in Inukjuak, Que., about 40 kilometres (25 miles) outside of Upirnngiviaruq, he started carving at the age of 14 on soapstone and tusks after learning from an American working for the Hudson's Bay Company. The American was nicknamed Saumik, meaning left-handed.

In 1953, Amagoalik and his family along with 10 other Inuit families, some from Inukjuak (then called Port Harrison) and Pond Inlet, were sent to Resolute.

"He was put up there for sovereignty for Canada and now one of the human flagpoles is gone," said Eetoolook.

The pair first met in 1963 when they were both being treated for tuberculosis.

Eetoolook said even then Amagoalik was a leader. This leadership continued as Amagoalik was involved in the early negotiations of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott acknowledged Amagoalik's death in the legislative assembly in Iqaluit on March 2.

"He was a very talented artist and took the time to explain to me how and why he became a carver," Elliott said after visiting Amagoalik last summer.

Sharing his love for carving and Inuit knowledge in general was something Amagoalik enjoyed and did often. He spent many hours over the years at Qarmartalik School involved with the cultural programs.

Whether it was teaching students to carve, leading a mentorship program for the teachers, storytelling, teaching Inuktitut or sharing hunting tricks during camping trips in the spring, school principal Jennifer Borden said he was always welcomed.

"He has done a lot for this school and he has made a big impact on the students and teachers," she said. "We're all going to really miss his contribution to education."

She said staff and students will now cherish even more a caribou antler that Amagoalik carved which holds a kayak in the school's main entrance way.

She said he last taught carving at the school in January and February 2010.

"The students loved working with him," Borden said.

Amagoalik created the monument for the High Arctic relocatees with the help of his grandson Jeffrey, which shows he wanted to ensure he was passing on his skills to future generations.

Amagoalik was deputy mayor of Resolute in 2009.

Tabitha Mullin, another former deputy mayor, said she had known Amagoalik for her whole life.

"He was very nice and straight forward," she said.

He spoke little English and several times when Mullin translated for him they always shared a few laughs together.

Mullin said about the monument, "I think he was very proud. Those people will be remembered and it will be remembered forever."