David Kakuktinniq Jr.

David Kakuktinniq Jr. is a wildlife and landscape photographer based in Kangiqliniq (Rankin Inlet), NU. His interest in photography began after he graduated high school, when he started to take a digital camera everywhere he went during trips on the land, capturing photos of his surroundings. 

Inspired by the land and animals that live in Kangiqliniq, Kakuktinniq Jr. is a mostly self-taught photographer who often photographs ringed seals, polar bears, caribou and the northern lights, depending on the season. “To me, the nicest thing about the North is the land and what it has to offer,” [1] he says. Using a variety of Nikon cameras and a DJI drone, he is able to capture incredible moments like the caribou migration and birds of prey in mid-flight. Several of his photos also highlight the northern lights. “They are one of the most beautiful things around the world, let alone [in] Rankin Inlet,” he says. 

One of the highlights of his photographing experiences was in 2023 when he came across caribou in migration. He waited patiently, first taking videos and then switching to photographing when the caribou came closer. “Eventually I was completely surrounded…that was one of my cooler experiences.”  Kakuktinniq Jr. sold this footage in 2024 to the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, ON, where it is currently on display. His work is also displayed in several offices in Kangiqliniq, and some of his photos of the northern lights went on display in the Kangiqliniq airport starting in 2025. 

Passionate about sharing the natural beauty of Kangiqliniq, Kakuktinniq Jr. hopes to combine his photography practice with tourism in the future. He started doing this in the fall of 2025 when he put out a public call to take people to some of the locations he goes to photograph to see the northern lights. He received an overwhelming amount of interest and was able to take a small group. “I was able to showcase some of the beauty of the North and what it has to offer, and that's what I hope for.”