John Terriak

One of the 2008 polar bear monitors for our Northern Labrador Polar Bear Expedition was John Terriak, one of Canada’s most celebrated Inuit carvers. John’s commitment to his traditional lifestyle made him a feature in a National Geographic article on Labrador during the 1970s while his art and stories have inspired articles written by cultural anthropologists and collectors of aboriginal art.
 
John’s respect for nature drew him to carving. His art features breathtaking interpretations of animals and his culture’s relationship to nature. The majority of John’s carvings are of soapstone from north of Nain. He also works with whale bone, caribou bone, and ivory. John finishes all of his work with his “J.T.” and his own Weasel etching which symbolizes the translation of “Terriak” from his Native Inuktitut.
 
Our northern Labrador expeditions with John will let him introduce you to the Inuit language, culture and traditions of Labrador’s north coast. His experiences on the land and with his dog teams makes a Wildland Tours program in Northern Labrador a wonderful, authentic addition to our travel experience.