Brenda Amak&ak Panikpakuttuq Putulik grew up in Naujaat, Nunavut. She is a great-granddaughter of Lea Arngnaujaq of Aivilik, Noah Piugattuq of Amaittuq, and a descendent of Qillaqsuaq of Greenland. Brenda is artistic, passionate about sewing today, but her story in her sewing journey began before she was born. The name Amak&ak was given to Brenda through a dream, and once Brenda was born that she was forbidden to sew or prepare skins. Brenda observed how seal or caribou skins were prepared and was given limited information about sewing in respect to her namesake. The matriarch of the family, Lea Arngnaujaq, said young girls first have to learn to sew before you can have a family, and there was expectation to be able to make pattern and to be able to sew. Brenda did not work with patterns, sew or prepare seal or caribou skins until she became a mother, and has since mentored young women in their sewing journeys.