Juanisi Jakusi Itukalla, or "Joanassie Jack", as he is called, was born just south of Puvirnituq on December 2, 1949.
Prompted by his father Aisa Avialiajuk Itukalla and his uncle Levi Qumaluk, both of whom have reputations as superb artists,
Juanasi began to carve at about twelve years of age. His younger brother Peter carves also.
Through their mother they are related to that great family of sculptors which includes Joe Talirunili and Davidialuk Alasua Amittu.
Juanisi has frequently demonstrated carving in Ottawa and Toronto, and Montreal. In 1985, he was profiled in a documentary film
'Inukshuk'. The film features Juanisi and his family at their temporary summer camp; it documents the creation of one of his sculptures -
from quarrying the stone to the completed carving.
Juanisi is the brother to Peter Boy Itukalla and Maggie Ittukallak, nephew of Levi Qumaluk.
HONOURS, ACHIEVEMENTS and EVENTS:
1969 Demonstrated the art of carving in Ottawa, Toronto and at "Man and HisWorld", Montreal.
1982 Submitted a maquette for the stone decoration of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.
1985 Was the subject of a documentary film entitled "Inukshuk" produced by Bernard Beaupre.
1988 With Peter Itukalla and Paulusie Novalinga, won first prize for a Quebec sculpture in the International Sculpture Competition.
1989 Demonstrated carving in Leningrad, USSR from November 28 to December 10th, in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition 'Tundra Taiga',
a joint venture between the USSR and le musee de la civilisation de Quebec.
1990 Won the Popular Prize in the National Snow Sculpture Competition at the Carneval de Quebec.
1992 Juanisi participated as a speaker at the Inuit Art Conference held at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in January.