Born in 1933 in Avvajja, in the region of Iglulik, in Nunavut Territory, Herve Paniaq is an Inuit elder, hunter and storyteller. Together with his wife Tuurnaq (Yvonne) he raised six adopted children: Melanie, Itani, Cindy, Moses, Agnes, and Catherine. He has authored two books for the Nunavut-based Inhabit Media: Walrus, which is part of the "Animals Illustrated" series, and Takannaaluk, which retells the myth of Takannaaluk (also known as Sedna).