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INUVIK
Don Gruben Sr., an Inuvialuit jewelry maker from Inuvik, first began his foray into art when he picked up a passion for calligraphy in elementary school.

Don Gruben Sr., 46, carves his antler and ivory jewelry at a work station tucked in the corner of his living room at his home in Inuvik. - Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison/NNSL photo

He later turned to drawing - coming in second in a national Remembrance Day poster contest - and then soapstone carving.

But it wasn't until 1990, after years of watching his brother John Gruben make jewelry, that he tried it out for himself.

"It got me inspired," he said.

Local fur garment makers in Tuktoyaktuk were in need of jewelry for their wares, Gruben explained, which boosted his enthusiasm even more.

"I knew there was a market for it," he said.

"But in Tuk we struggled."

When Gruben and his wife Darlene Cockney moved to Inuvik in 1999, both decided to enter the jewelry and metalwork program at Aurora College. Though it focused on metalwork, and not his usual antler and ivory carving, Gruben said he's glad he stuck with it for two years.

He mainly carves earrings, necklaces and broaches now, using mammoth and walrus ivory or moose antlers. His favourite figures are swans, hunters and bears.

"I don't think there's enough known about the North out there," he said, explaining why he primarily carves local symbols and wildlife.

Gruben said the hardest part of jewelry making is the finishing touches, which involves fine details and sanding.

"I cut my fingers. I sand my fingers. My hands are immune to it now," he said.

More than two decades later, Gruben said his work is "70 per cent nicer" - but he still struggles to sell it in Northern markets.

In Inuvik he sells his pieces to people through word of mouth, or to tourists through the store Originals.

He hopes that one day he can find a market down south for Northern art, but doubts he can do it without first having a partnership with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation or another government department.

"It's really financially hard to try to make a living with it without support," he said.

Despite his struggles, Gruben said that even when he loses all strength in his hands, he will continue to make jewelry in his mind.

"That's all I can do," he said.

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