Richard Adam Kudlak

Richard Adam Kudlak resides in Ulukhaktok (Holman), NT (1). He is a hunter, visual artist, aspiring blacksmith and teacher (2). Kudlak has noted that his artwork is directly connected to the history and linguistic meaning of his northern community’s name, as Ulukhaktok means “the place where ulu parts are found" and he primarily creates usable items, such as ulus and other tools (3). He has stated that he creates these items “…out of respect for my father and my forefathers” (4).

Kudlak is also interested in how Inuit tools and historical artefacts can highlight generational connections as well as help Inuit communities learn about their ancestors. Kudlak created an ulu knife in 2011 with a steel blade and a muskox horn handle to present to the British Museum as part of the Inuinnait delegation at the museum between April 16 to 20, 2012 (5). He travelled with a group of representatives from his community as well as Cambridge Bay, NU, to view items in the British Museum’s collection that their ancestors used (6). A photographer as well as a videographer travelled with the group to take pictures and videos of the items and arrange them in an interactive website to associate these items with their region of origin and help Inuit communities learn about the lives of their ancestors (7). In 2016, Kudlak also arranged an exhibition of items such as parkas, crafts and boots designed for drum-dancing in Helen Kalvak Elihakvik school in Ulukhaktok (8). This project was intended to help others view and learn about artefacts that are meaningful to Inuit families and communities (9). Kudlak's work is part of the British Museum collection and many other private collections in Canada and internationally.