Mary Akulukjuk was born in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. She now lives in Iqaluit with her common-law husband, Dinos Tikivik. She has three children and five stepchildren. Mary graduated from Gordon Robertson Education Centre in Frobisher, which is now Inukshuk High School in Iqaluit, and has a Bachelor of Education from McGill University. Mary has taught in Grise Fiord, the most northern community in Canada, in Iqaluit at Joamie School, and at the Nunavut Teachers Education Program in Educational Professional Studies. She is currently Acting-Program Manager for Nunavut Teacher Education Program at Nunavut Arctic College.