More artists with work represented in the IRC Craft Shop

NINGAKSAK Stanley Herbert Ruben 

His Inuvialuit name is Ningaksak. Stanley Herbert Ruben is the featured artist for April, with work at the IRC craft shop.  

Ningaksak Stanley Ruben was born in 1964 at Cape Parry, NT, to Billy and Bertha Ruben. He grew up in Paulatuk as it was becoming a settlement. His family hunted and fished- harvesting as Inuvialuit did along the coast. Stan’s father Billy made a living through trapping and his mom Bertha was a seamstress. 

Ningaksak remembers that “the education I wanted was on the land with my parents, but I left for school in Inuvik when I was six.” Two years later, a school opened in Paulatuk. At that time, the economy and sale of furs was in full swing in the Arctic and people were making money selling seal skin hides. His older brothers started learning to carve and brought soapstone to Paulatuk. Ships would bring supplies to Paulatuk and his brothers would carve and sell their work to crew members. 

“That’s how I started carving—by fixing a broken piece and selling it.”  

Stan Ruben has been carving different materials for many years - whalebone, soapstone, ivory, antlers and muskox horn. He tries to understand the potential of the materials while he works with them to expand the creative potential. 

He also makes jewelry from ivory, amber and muskox horn and over the past five years has also been drawing a lot. 

Ningaksak Stanley Herbert Ruben says of his work, “I have an understanding of the myths and legends of the past and sometimes incorporate them into my art. Growing up, we had a lot of curiosity as we travelled these lands and hills, and our minds make up for unknowns by creating visions in empty spaces. Carving or creating is like that - until we find what is beyond and our mind is more clearly represented as years go by.”