Pauta Saila
Pauta Saila (1916 or 1917–2009) was an Inuk artist from Kilaparutua, Baffin Island, Canada who resided in Cape Dorset, Nunavut. His sister was artist Sharni Pootoogook. His works are massive, simplified sculptures of Arctic wildlife, usually in soapstone; best known are his dancing bears.
Also recorded as Pauta · Paouta
Pauta Saila

Judith Eglington · Library and Archives Canada does not allow free use of its copyrighted works. See Category:Images from Library and Archives Canada. · CC BY 4.0
- Name
- Pauta Saila
- Born
- 1916 or 1917
- Birthplace
- Kilaparutua, Baffin Island, Canada
- Died
- 2009-06-09 1916
- Place of death
- Cape Dorset, Nunavut
- Known for
- Inuk sculptor
- Nationality
- Canada
- Occupation
- sculptor
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Documentary summary
Pauta Saila (1916 or 1917–2009) was an Inuk artist from Kilaparutua, Baffin Island, Canada who resided in Cape Dorset, Nunavut. His sister was artist Sharni Pootoogook. His works are massive, simplified sculptures of Arctic wildlife, usually in soapstone; best known are his dancing bears.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q7155491 · wikipedia · Pauta Saila
In this article
Biography
Biography
Pauta's second wife was the Inuk artist Pitaloosie Saila. He was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2003.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Pauta Saila • Born — 1916 or 1917 • Birthplace — Kilaparutua, Baffin Island, Canada • Died — 2009-06-09 1916 • Place of death — Cape Dorset, Nunavut • Known for — Inuk sculptor
Works
Works
• Illustration — Dancing bear sculpture by Saila in Ottawa's Byward Market • Bear, at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1917
Pauta Saila born at Baffin Island.
2009
Pauta Saila died on 9 June 2009.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Baffin Island.
Birth place
Kinngait.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Pauta Saila”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q7155491: Pauta Saila
General reference · Wikidata
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
People, houses and institutions
Knowledge graph
People, houses and institutions
Teachers, collaborators, publishers and institutions recorded against this person, each on a stated basis.
Born at
1- Baffin IslandPlace
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
The authorities additionally record the headings Pauta and Paouta. He married Pitaloosie Saila. One child is recorded: Mikisti Saila.
Identity and origins
Recognition and collections
Work by Pauta Saila is
Finnish National Gallery, National Gallery of Canada, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and Smithsonian Institution
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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