Simon Tookoome

Simon Tookoome (December 9, 1934, Chantrey Inlet – November 7, 2010 Baker Lake) was an Utkusiksalingmiut Inuk artist.

Life In his youth, Tookoome and other Utkusiksalingmiut lived along the Back River and in Gjoa Haven on King William Island. Here he met and was influenced by the Netsilik Inuit.

Tookoome died in Baker Lake, Nunavut on 7 November 2010.

Work He was the author, with Sheldon Oberman, of the children's book Shaman's Nephew: A Life in the Far North, which won the $10,000 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian children's non-fiction in 2000. This autobiographical book deals with Tookoome's youthful experiences of the traditional Inuit way of life, including experiences with hunting and encountering non-Inuit culture for the first time. He was also included in Irene Avaalaaqiaq Myth and Reality:

In addition to being an accomplished artist, Tookoome was renowned as a master whipper.