Noah Napatchie

Noah Napatchi was an Inuit printmaker and carver born in the South Baffin region of the Northwest Territories (now Nunavut). He spent his early life following a traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle, hunting and traveling across the southern coast of Baffin Island before settling in Kinngait (Cape Dorset) during the mid-twentieth century.

Napatchi emerged as an early participant in the graphic arts and carving movement initiated in Kinngait in the late 1950s. Working primarily in stone cut, stencil, and drawing, his visual output documented regional wildlife, Arctic hunting practices, and traditional spiritual beliefs. His work often depicted human figures interacting with indigenous fauna, including seals, walruses, and polar bears. Alongside his graphic works, he produced soapstone sculptures that emphasized solid forms and traditional subject matter.

Throughout his career, Napatchi contributed drawings and prints to the annual Cape Dorset print releases during the 1960s and 1970s. His work was featured in early survey exhibitions of Inuit graphic arts organized by Canadian public galleries. Today, his prints and sculptures are held in permanent public museum collections, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. He lived and worked in Kinngait until his death in 1980.