Beads of Joy

An Inuk Jewellery Maker Mixes Tradition With Contemporary Influences

By Izabela Jaroszynski

The first time Kautuq Simonee remembers being introduced to the art of beading was as a third grader in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Her teacher handed out pin cushions for practice, and soon after, Kautuq and her classmates began beading cultural headbands—qaurutiit in Inuktitut—and tiny dolls.

“It was fun, but I don’t remember much else from it,” she admits. Born in the small northern hamlet of Pond Inlet in Nunavut, Kautuq spent much of her early childhood in Iqaluit before eventually moving to Ottawa.

Yet, something from those early lessons must have stuck. Years later, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Kautuq rediscovered beading as a way to relieve stress and pass the time. What began as a casual activity soon became a passion.

“I found that I really enjoyed it,” she says. Encouraged by her growing interest, Kautuq taught herself a mix of traditional Inuit techniques and modern jewellery-making methods.

Today, at 23 years old, Kautuq is an emerging artisan with a distinct style that blends playful, youthful energy with the deep cultural heritage of her Inuit roots.

“I make things I’d like to wear,” she explains. Working in a dedicated space in her Ottawa home, she creates earrings and necklaces from natural materials such as fish vertebrae, Arctic char skin, and seal skin.

Kautuq shares that seal skin, a prominent material in her work, comes in two forms: Naluaq, which is de-haired and sun-bleached and Iqaqti, which is de-haired but retains its natural colour.

Some of the supplies can be hard to procure, but Kautuq enjoys using natural and traditional Inuit materials.

Inspiration strikes from various places — collaborations with other artists, her surroundings, and her imagination. “I’ll get a fully formed image in my head of what I want it to look like, and then I just hope it turns out that way,” she says with a laugh.

Her creative process varies. While smaller pieces might take a day or two, intricate designs, like beaded necklaces, can take months to complete. Each piece reflects care, patience, and her evolving artistry.

Through her work, Kautuq not only finds personal fulfillment but also keeps the art of Inuit jewellery-making alive and thriving in new ways.

One of her favourite traditions is gifting her handmade earrings to loved ones.

“As a kid, I would be gifted earrings and it would be really awesome. I would always dream of being older and gifting them to other people to make them feel special,” she says.

“It is hard to explain but there is just something about a new pair of earrings that makes you feel special and proud.”

And it's a feeling she loves to share.