ANNIE SHOAPIK BOWKETT

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ANNIE SHOAPIK BOWKETT

June 13, 1954 - January 7, 2026

My beloved wife Annie quietly left this life behind in the early hours of January 7, 2026 in Riverview Centre here in Winnipeg. Her two-year journey with lung cancer was overseen by the capable medical team at CancerCare.

Annie was born to Inuit parents, Seemeeonee E6-300 and Rachel E6-216 at their outpost camp, Ilkaloolik, on the shores of Cumberland Sound, Baffin Island. She was the first born of eight children.

Inuktitut was her first language, and she spoke it always with family and friends. Early in her life on the land she learned from her mother how to prepare sealskins for sewing kamiks and mitts. When the family moved off the land to the hamlet of Pangnirtung she found that Inuit women worked constantly with sealskins. Her aunts Iga and Ooleepeka noticed that Annie wanted to learn as much as she could from them. She visited them almost every day with a piece of half-finished kamik or mitt in her hand.

Sewing became central in Annie's life. It was one of her great loves. She sewed parkas, kamiks, and mitts for her children every year. Annie carried her young children in the traditional white amoutiks. All nine of her children and grandchildren would know the warmth and security of this clothing.

After her children were born Annie had a store built in Pangnirtung to sell her sewing to the community and visitors. She called it Miqqut (Needle). She also frequently met with others in the local kamuk, where they supported and encouraged each other.

In the past 20 years, Annie visited many Inuit communities for four to six weeks. During this time she taught many women how to prepare and sew sealskins. Her patient instruction was always enthusiastically received.

When Annie moved from Pangnirtung to Winnipeg she developed a home business. She named it Inuit Custom Clothing, and received orders from across the country.

In Winnipeg, Annie was often invited to light the kulliq (seal oil lamp) at Inuit gatherings. She was also invited to light and maintain the kulliq when the Truth and Reconciliation hearings were in the city.

For the past few years she would never go anywhere without her sewing. Keys, cellphone - and sewing! She leaves behind much unfinished work. She can rest content, though, knowing her sewing gifts will be continued in many Inuit communities.

Annie is survived by husband Roy; sons, Randy, Joshua, and Sim; daughters, Rebecca (Raymond-James) and Esabell; grandsons, Mathias and Azlan Eli; and stepsons, Jeremy, Kevan, and Owen Bowkett (Brenna).

Annie's funeral was held on Thursday, January 22nd, in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. A celebration of Annie's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 7th, at St. Peter's Anglican Church, 755 Elm Street (at Grant Avenue), Winnipeg. A lunch will follow. All are welcome.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 31, 2026