Peter Pitseolak
Peter Pitseolak (2 September 1902, Nottingham Island, Northwest Territories—September 30, 1973, Cape Dorset, Northwest Territories) was an Inuit photographer, sculptor, artist and historian.
Life
He lived most of his life in traditional Inuit camps near Cape Dorset, on the southwest coast of Baffin Island, now in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. This was a time of great social and technological change among the Inuit, from nomadic life to permanent settlements, from spears to rifles, from dogteams to snowmobiles. Airplanes, electric generators and Western clothing were also changing the human environment. Pitseolak dedicated himself to preserving knowledge of the old ways, by writing, sketching, and especially photography. He documented customs, hunting techniques, stories and myths. His brother was Pootoogoo, a chief.
In 1912 Pitseolak met photographer Robert J. Flaherty. Flaherty, best known today for his documentary movie Nanook of the North (1922), inspired Pitseolak's interest in photography. It was not until the 1930s, however, that Pitseolak took his first recorded photograph. This was for a white visitor who was afraid to approach a polar bear for a shot. Pitseolak took the photo for him, using the visitor's camera.
Podcasts:
Peter Pitseolak
ALBUMS
Inuit: Fifty-Five Historical Recordings: Traditional Music From Greenland 1905-1987
Released 2000- [inngerutit: entertaining song]
- [inngerutit: duel-song]
- [inngerutit: uaajeerneq-song]
- [inngerutit: duel-song]
- [inngerutit: kayak-song]
- [inngerutit: uaajeerneq-song]
- [inngerutit: entertaining song]
- [uaajeerneq-song]
- [lullaby]
- [charm-song]
- [charm-songs]
- [singing game]
- [inngerutit: duel-song]
- [qivittoq-song]
- [qivittoq-song]
- [mournful song]
- [qivittoq-song]
- [mournful song]
- [qivittoq-song]
- [teasing-song]
- Ukuarlivarisaa
- [epic lyric song]
- Nuummi
- [traditional song]
- [inngerutit: entertaining song]
- Qiimasoq
- [inngerutit: traditional song]
- Niviarsiannguit
- [song in a story]
- [song in a fable about "The Singing Hare"]
- [charm song]
- [inngerutit: entertaining drum-song]
- [inngerutit: tiguak's song]
- [inngerutit: Inûtek's song]
- [inngerutit: entertaining drum-song]
- [her own song]
- [inngerutit: invocation song]
- [inngerutit: Kajok's song]
- [inngerutit: variation of Kajok's song]
- [inngerutit: his own song]
- [inngerutit: Ihrè's song]
- [inngerutit: sivso' song]
- [inngerutit: entertaining song]
- [inngerutit: his own song]
- [entertaining song]
- [teasing-song]
- [song in a myth]
- [inngerutit: his own song]
- [inngerutit: song of a shamen]
- [inngerutit: Tornge's song]
- [inngerutit: entertaining song]
- [inngerutit: Pualorssuak's song]
- [inngerutit: story in a song]
- [entertaining song]
- [entertaining song]
