Through the Eyes of a Bird 

2001
Brazilian Soapstone
47.3 x 17.2 x 26.8

Collection of Alex De Figueiredo

This sculpture was inspired by memories of Old Andrew whose Inuit name was Keknektuk. He was an old man who had come with his family from Coppermine, (now Kugluktuk), to the Paulatuk area because of its bountiful hunting. 

Old Keknektuk was believed to have been a shaman. His specialty was transferring from his physical into the body of another animal or bird and viewing things through the eyes of that animal. He was known to use this technique to entertain people, suggesting that they watch the birds down by the seashore. He would go into a trance and immediately the birds would begin acting strangely. 
He would then come back into his body and ask the people what they thought.