Simon Tookoome (b. Tariunnuaq [Chantrey Inlet], NU – d. 2010) was a renowned Inuit artist, carver, jeweller, and storyteller, deeply rooted in the traditional knowledge of his people. Raised on the land, his art reflects his lived experiences, Inuit mythology, and shamanic traditions.
Tookoome began as a carver of bone and soapstone in the 1960s but found greater artistic freedom in drawing, developing a distinctive graphic style characterized by bold contour lines, saturated colors, and dynamic compositions. His imagery often featured hybrid animals, spiritual themes, and interconnected communities, as seen in works like Rainbow Dance (2006).
A founding member of the Baker Lake print shop, Tookoome was celebrated for his printmaking and won the Norma Fleck Award for his children’s book The Shaman’s Nephew: A Life in the Far North (1999), co-authored with Sheldon Oberman. His work has been widely exhibited and featured multiple times in the Inuit Art Quarterly.
