These are several pieces - made of soapstone, and a woven reed basket. They all were made in Great Whale River, Quebec, Canada, in 1963-1964. They were all made specifically for our family and I have a photo to show provenance on the basket. The soapstone came from the Belcher Islands in the Hudson Bay. On the base of the kayak, there is an E-9 number which identifies the carver. The kayak is 13.5" long; the two figures are 4.5" high; the basket is 4.25" diameter and 3.75" high. The goose and seal float on the kayak are both removeable and held on by a wooden peg. The whale is a unique piece as the tail is positioned the wrong way (like a fish, rather than a whale). It is 9.5" long, the tail is 6.25" high, and there is no artist information on the bottom. I found the kayak artist on the internet as a Johnassie Mannuk, whose E-9 number matches. It shows his location as the Belcher Islands / Sanikiluaq (modern day name for Great Whale River), so I feel confident this is his work.

The kayak was made for my father by an Eskimo carver and so I inherited it. The basket and other pieces were made for me by other carvers in the community. I have a photo of the woman who made the basket, when she gave it to my mother for me. We lived in Great Whale River from November 1962 to April 1964, so all items were made during that time period.