Eddy Weetaltuk

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Bio

Eddy Weetaltuk was born in 1932 on Strutton Island in James Bay, Nunavut. In 1941, the Canadian federal government assigned every Inuk a number that served as their name. These were known as ‘Eskimo’ disk numbers and consisted of a stamped disk or card that Inuk people had to carry at all times. Eddy’s number was E9-422: E for Eskimo, 9 for his community, and 422 to identify him as an individual. The practice of ‘Eskimo’ stemmed from government officials’ and missionaries’ inability to pronounce, spell, and understand the significance of Inuit names. ‘Weetaltuk’ means ‘innocent eyes’ in Inuktitut.

Eddy was born into a family of Arctic whale hunters. In his early life, Weetaltuk endured poverty and hardship. As one of 12 siblings, he grew up facing the challenges of a resource-scarce environment, where famine was often a haunting reality.

In pursuit of adventure and to escape the confines of his upbringing, Weetaltuk embarked on a journey that would lead him to unexpected places. He briefly attended the Roman Catholic residential school, Sainte-Thérèse-de-l’Enfant-Jésus, where the echoes of assimilation efforts were felt. Believing that Inuits were not allowed to leave the north (due to the ‘Eskimo’ disk system), Eddy sought a new identity. He took on the name Eddy Vital and found work as a logger in the town of Fort-Coulonge in western Québec.

In 1951, Eddy enlisted in the Canadian army under the assumed name Edward Vital and was given the number SC-17515. He then became the first Canadian Inuit soldier to serve in the Korean War.

Weetaltuk’s involvement in the Korean War was a defining chapter in his life. As a member of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, he was deployed to a distant and foreign land, thrust into the harsh realities of war. Eddy served 15 years in the Canadian Army, including in Korea, Japan, and Germany.

In 1967, he returned home to Nunavut and decided to share his extraordinary journey. In 1974, he began collaborating with sociologist Thibault Martin to shape his autobiography, capturing his transformation from a young Inuk boy to a soldier who had seen the world.

In his later years, Weetaltuk focused on helping the younger generation of Inuit overcome drug and alcohol addiction. He settled in Kuujjuarapik, Nunavik, and aimed to be a beacon of inspiration. He used his own experiences to guide others toward a brighter future.

Eddy passed away suddenly in 2005, just days before his book was finished. He wanted his story to empower young Inuit individuals to find strength in their culture and heritage. His autobiography was later translated into multiple languages, including English as “From the Tundra to the Trenches.” Published in 2017, it became a testament to his journey and a source of inspiration for generations to come.

Sources :

Feature: From the Tundra to the Korean War: Eddy Weetaltuk’s story. Nunatsiaq News. (2009, July 17). https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/feature_from_the_tundra_to_the_korean_war_eddy_weetaltuks_story/

Goodreads. (2017, February 3). From the Tundra to the trenches (first voices, first te… Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29993297-from-the-tundra-to-the-trenches

Melgaard, M. (2017, February 28). “a gripping first-hand account”: The memoir of an Inuit veteran of the … National Post. https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/books/book-reviews/a-gripping-first-hand-account-the-memoir-of-an-inuit-veteran-of-the-korean-war-is-published-after-waiting-decades

WEETALTUK, E. (2019). From the Tundra to the Trenches. UNIV OF MANITOBA PRESS.

Weetaltuk, Eddy. Inuit Literatures ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐊᓪᓚᒍᓯᖏᑦ Littératures inuites. (n.d.). https://inuit.uqam.ca/en/person/weetaltuk-eddy