Mother Breastfeeding Child (c.1975)

Judas was told that he was born in the fall (late summer), although records say July. He left Thom Bay as a small child and grew up near Fort Ross before moving to Spence Bay in his early twenties. While at Spence Bay he still lived on the land, not moving into the community until his kids started going to school (he has five of his own and four that are adopted). When Judas was young he grew up with girls and learned a lot about making dolls. It is no surprise then that his first carving was a person as he found the human figure easiest to make. Judas started carving at a time when everyone else around him took up carving as a source of income. He feels that his work has progressed. Only a few years ago (late 1980s) he visited Ottawa and saw some of his earlier carvings, and remarked that they couldn’t even stand up properly. His brothers are sculptors Nelson Takkiruq of Gjoa Haven, and Charlie Ugyuk of Spence Bay.*

*from an interview with Ingo Hessel, 1992