Larry Audlaluk (born 1953) is an Inuit people activist and writer from Canada who was among those forcibly relocated during the High Arctic relocation program.[Michelle Lalonde, "Time can't erase horrible details of Inuit ordeal". Montreal Gazette, April 8, 1993.] He was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2007.
His memoir, What I Remember, What I Know: The Life of a High Arctic Exile, was a shortlisted finalist for the Governor General's Award for English-language non-fiction at the 2021 Governor General's Awards.[ "Ivan Coyote, David A. Robertson & Julie Flett among finalists for $25K Governor General's Literary Awards". CBC Books, October 14, 2021.]
Early life and relocation
Audlaluk was born in
Inukjuak,
Quebec in 1953. Audlaluk's family was one of several who were forcibly relocated by the Canadian government to
Grise Fiord,
Nunavut in the High Arctic relocation incident of the 1950s.
[Emma Tranter, "Larry Audlaluk tells a story of broken promises, healing in new book". Nunatsiaq News, September 17, 2020.]
His family struggled through poverty; Audlaluk sustained an eye injury in childhood and suffered pain for nearly four years before the federal government finally flew him to Montreal for medical treatment.
Activism and career
Audlaluk emerged as a community leader in adulthood,
[William Marsden, "With a 1940s rifle, he stands on guard for thee". Montreal Gazette, October 5, 1985.] and testified about his experiences to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in 1993.
["Inuit's relocation called 'cruel and inhumane'". Vancouver Sun, April 10, 1993.] Audlaluk unsuccessfully stood in the 2004 Nunavut general election in the
Quttiktuq electoral district.
Support for Israel
In 1996, Audlaluk traveled to
Israel and was described as "the Holy Land’s best known Inuk" due to his appearances on local television.
In an article about the 2004 Nunavuk election,
Nunatsiaq News stated that:
"Audlaluk is also known for his frequent visits to the Holy Land where he’s become Israel’s favourite Inuk and Nunavut’s unofficial ambassador."
What I Remember, What I Know
What I Remember, What I Know was published in 2020.
In addition to the Governor General's Awards, the book was also shortlisted for the 2021 J. W. Dafoe Book Prize.
[Bob Armstrong, "Non-fiction short list spans topics, genres". Winnipeg Free Press, May 15, 2021.]
Honors
In 2007, he was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada to honor his record of community service in Grise Fiord.
["A host of new faces joins the Order". The Globe and Mail, December 29, 2007.]
