David Serkoak

Inuit Elder & Drum Dancer
Arviat, Nunavut, Canada

David was born in the northern tip of Nueltin Lake, NU southwest of Arviat, just north of the Manitoba border but his family lived in Ennadai Lake, until the late 1950s. Between 1949 and 1959, the federal government forcibly relocated his family numerous times, finally settling on the west coast of Hudson Bay, hundreds of miles away from their home.

David attended Federal Day Schools in Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove in the early 60s. Finally, in 1969, his family moved back to Arviat of their own will and settled. After receiving only elementary level education, David took it upon himself to pursue his own (mostly self taught) education. In 1978, he graduated from the Teacher Education Program in Fort Smith, NWT. and spent many years teaching and developing Inuktitut teaching material for all levels of local, regional territorial education systems. In 2008, he retired from his position with the Government of Nunavut and moved to Ottawa to teach at Nunavut Sivuniksavut until 2012.

Throughout his career, David has worked in many levels in education as a teacher (primary/secondary schools), vice-principal, principal, Instructor at Nunavut Arctic College, and as a curator at the British Museum of Mankind in England. During his free time, he spends his time making Inuit drums, teaching youth about the art of drum dancing. Now a full-time retiree, he spends his time teaching his 6 grandkids drum dancing, drum making and hunting. David still travels to promote Inuit history and culture awareness across the country and beyond.

SOI has been honoured to have David participate on many of our Arctic Expeditions since 2010. As an Elder, he shares valuable knowledge and perspectives of Inuit history and culture with youth from around the world, and his drum making and drum dancing workshops are always a favorite among students.