Benoit Aquin
By Taqralik Partridge
It is with great sadness that Avataq marks the passing of Nunavik elder Isaacie Padlayat.
Isaacie Padlayat was one of the founding members of Avataq Cultural Institute and was continually re-elected as a member of its board of directors from the institute’s beginnings in 1980 until his passing. For more than the past decade he served as Avataq’s vice president and was a vocal proponent of Inuit culture and Inuktitut throughout his life.
Isaacie’s love of the land and his skill as a hunter were well-known, as he spent most of his time at Deception Bay, outside the village of Salluit.
Isaacie’s joyful manner and devotion to the people in his community had a positive effect on anyone who knew him. While his passing means a profound loss for his family, his fellow Inuit and Nunavik, he leaves the legacy of a life well lived that stands as an example for Inuit of younger generations to follow.
In working with him over the years, Avataq staff and board members were well acquainted with Isaacie’s generosity, his sense of humour and his great personal strength. He will be greatly missed.
