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Helen Kalvak started drawing in her late 60s and produced over 3,000 works. She was a leading artist from Ulukhaktok (formerly known as Holman) in the Northwest Territories who drew from her experience of a semi-nomadic life and the stories of her Innuinait ancestors. The Inuinnait are also known as the Copper Inuit, for their distinct cultural history and extensive use of copper deposits in their tools. Kalvak’s art often depicts the interdependence between people, animals, and the environment that comes with living in a remote location. Many Inuit, including Kalvak, were transitioned from living off the land, most often forcibly, into permanent settlements. Many community members participated in government sponsored art programs to create a new economic base. Her drawings became stonecut or lithographic prints of limited editions, however it is the original drawing that is one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable.