Yesterday seeing off relatives at the airport I spied this little fellow who had been most elusive since my arrival in Canada last August.
I first laid eyes upon the Ookpik at Douglas Copeland's 'Canada House' exhibition at the Canadian High Commission in London back in 2005 and instantly fell in love.
The Ookpik (sometimes spelled Ukpik), is the inuktituk word for the Snowy Owl and was created in the early 60's as a small souvenir owl by the Ft Chimo Eskimo Co-operative in 1963. The Ookpik remained a popular symbol of Canada for many years until disappearing in the late 70's.
As a new immigrant I am proud to be living with an Ookpik and I suggest you all search for one soon.
2 comments:
That is the cutest thing. Welcome to Canada.
I saw an article in the Toronto Star last week about a rescued owl and the picture was just this little head with these huge eyes and I though "oh, he looks just like an Ookpik". But I thought it was ootpick. I searched to see if I had made it up (but I do remember having one when I was little) but could find nothing until a friend told me I was spelling it wrong.
I am glad that a few other people remember them too. They were adorable.
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