Bobby Nokalak Anavilok was raised on the land, moving between camps by dogsled; it was at this time that the artistic spark was being lit by his parents, who were both respected artists. He learned to draw by using flat stones as tablets to create scenes or depict animals. Once paper was available to him, he further developed his drawing skills. A lifetime of hard work and perseverance transformed his artistic talents into sculptures and drawings that are fluid in their movement, yet full of raw, visceral energy.

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«We hunted caribou year round, sometimes using inukshuks to indicate where caribou migrations would pass, and also to locate ourselves within space and provide us with a sense of direction for travel. Spring and summer were reserved for hunting migratory birds and making fish traps, that we placed in rivers from which we would then harvest with kakivaks (fish spears). Seal was primarily used for its blubber, a thick layer of fat, which would be burned into an oil on Kuliks (soapstone lamps), its fur used to make clothing and its hide used for the transportation of goods and equipment (gear carriers). Before sleds were made with manmade materials like those used today, the sled runners (Aaliaks/kamotiks) would be made from fish lined lengthwise and well wrapped in seal hide, then placed back into the water and finally pulled out so the entire object could freeze. There are two parts of a sled (runners) that slide on ice or snow, the second one being caribou antlers. These would be tied in parallel to the frozen fish wrapped in hide.»