- The Governor General of Canada
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Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak
Iqaluit, Nunavut
Grant of Arms and Supporters, with differences to Aliisa Uvinik Autut, Pujjuut Kusugak, Alaana Papaaq Qaritaq Groves and Special Kukik Kusugak
June 15, 2017
Vol. VI, p. 730
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Blazon
Arms
Per pale Azure and Gules an inuksuk between three ulus Or and in chief a snow knife fesswise Argent hilted Or;
Crest
A flower Gules seeded of a woman’s face proper all within a timber frame Or;
Supporters
Two snow buntings each gorged of a collar of Inuit beadwork proper pendent therefrom a maple leaf conjoined in base with an ulu Or, both standing on a base of snow set with two qulliqs and purple saxifrage flowers all flanked by waves proper and issuant from a bar of an Inuit tattoo pattern Sable;
Motto
ᓇᒡᓕᖕᓂᖅ ᐃᓚᒌᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᖅ ᓴᐱᓕᔪᐃᑦᑑᓂᖅ;
Symbolism
Arms
The elements of the arms honour the members of Commissioner Kusugak’s family. The inuksuk, a symbol of Nunavut, refers to her late husband Jose and his role in the creation of the territory. The snow knife is an important item in Inuit culture, and represents her son, Pujjuut. The ulus, used as knives or scrapers by Inuit women, represent her three daughters, Aliisa, Alaana and Special. The blue, red and yellow refer to the service of Commissioner Kusugak’s father in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the uniform of which uses these colours.
The shape of the shield alludes to the amauti worn by Inuit women, and thus symbolizes Commissioner Kusugak herself.
Crest
The flower with the face is a motif from Commissioner Kusugak’s mother’s artwork. The frame has two meanings: it refers to the family’s cabin, and it also alludes to her mother’s opening of the family home as a shelter to women and children in times of need.
Supporters
Snow buntings are a distinctive bird found in Nunavut. The beadwork is a traditional artform of the Inuit. The maple leaf joined with the ulu is based on the emblem created by Commissioner Kusugak’s husband Jose for the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the organization that represents the interests of Canada’s Inuit and was instrumental in the creation of Nunavut. It represents the family’s belief in being both Canadian and Inuit. The purple saxifrage is the territorial floral emblem, and it was also a subject used in the artwork of Commissioner Kusugak’s mother, with their number representing Commissioner Kusugak’s 13 grandchildren. The waves represent Hudson’s Bay, the location of her home at Rankin Inlet. The pattern at the bottom is a tattoo design she wears on her wrists, and which she associates with her grandmother.
Motto
This Inuktitut phrase means “Love, family, tenacity”.