Norman Hallendy's interest in the Arctic has spanned over 35 years. He has travelled throughout the Canadian Arctic, often in the company of his Inuit friends and mentors. He has lectured widely in Canada and abroad and has several essays published in various venues. He is a Research Associate of the Arctic Institute of North America and a Research Fellow of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and of the Nunavut Research Institute.

Now retired from the public service, he is documenting the physical and spiritual landscape of southwest Baffin Island, where he is affectionately known as Apirqsukti, "the inquisitive one." For his role in interpreting the mysteries of inuksuit, he was awarded the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's 2001 Gold Medal.

Selected writings:

Inuksuit: Silent Messengers of the Arctic, Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2001.

"The Silent Messengers." Equinox, no.85 (January-February 1996), pp.36-45.

"TAKURLUK: Observing Unusual Things: an essay revealing intimate discussions with Elders about spiritual perceptions." Information North (pub. The Arctic Institute of North America), vol.21, no.3 (September 1995), pp.1-6.

"Inuksuit: Semalithic Figures Constructed by Inuit in the Canadian Arctic." Pp.385-408 in Threads of Arctic Prehistory: Papers in Honour of William E. Taylor Jr., David Morrison and Jean-Luc Pilon, eds. Canadian Museum of Civilization, Mercury Series, Archaeological Survey of Canada Paper 149, 1994.

"Reflections, Shades and Shadows: a collection of intimate conversations with Inuit who lived on the land in the traditional manner." Pp.126-167 in Collected Papers on the Human History of the Northwest Territories, Occasional Paper No.1. Yellowknife: Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, 1985.