Carving is a well-known aspect of Inuit culture. For decades, Inuit carvings have been prized the world over.
Soapstone required for carving, has long been a major commodity for artists in Nunavut. Currently, efforts continue to improve the availability of quality carving stone to artists in all communities in Nunavut by strengthening traditional quarrying methods and facilitating inter-community distribution.
Carving stone means utkuhighak and hananguagahaq, which means serpentinite, argillite, and soapstone in the Nunavut Settlement Area where those substances are suitable for use for carving purposes.
Ukkusiksaqtarvik: The Place Where We Find Stone, a recent report by the Government of Nunavut, has been prepared in connection with Sanaugait: A Strategy for Growth in Nunavut’s Arts and Crafts Sector. It has been developed to contribute to the achievement of the arts strategy goal to increase the quality of Nunavut art.