Honouring Elder Qapik Attagutsiak (1920 –2023)

With a full heart, Pirurvik Preschool is pleased to present, Qapik Attagutsiak- Inuit Midwifery, a documentary remembering and honouring, Elder Qapik Attagutsiak, a beloved midwife, master seamstress, and one of Nunavut’s most respected knowledge keepers.

Filmed in Arctic Bay, Nunavut in 2023, the documentary features Elder Qapik in conversation with Regilee Ootoova, a traditional midwife from Pond Inlet. Drawing from her lived experience, Elder Qapik shares invaluable knowledge about traditional Inuit midwifery, preserving essential cultural knowledge and practices that have supported Inuit families for generations.

Born in the Kivalliq region, Qapik began learning midwifery at 10 years old and went on to deliver hundreds of babies, support countless families, and advocate tirelessly for better Inuit-centred healthcare. She helped guide the creation of the Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team in Ottawa and shared her knowledge generously throughout her life, earning the Indspire Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.

Elder Qapik also played a remarkable role in Canada’s WWII efforts, gathering animal bones with other Inuit to be transformed into wartime supplies, a contribution for which she was later named a national “Hometown Hero” and awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Elder Qapik’s strength, wisdom, and legacy continue to inspire.

We give our heartfelt thanks to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) and the Justice for Indigenous Women organization, whose support made this film and tribute possible.

Our sincere appreciation to Chickweed Arts for the production of this meaningful project, and to Beckie Taukie for the translation

Watch the documentary: Qapik Attagutsiak- Inuit Midwifery- Documentary