Mosesee Pootoogook was born in the Iqaluit Hospital but has grown up in Cape Dorset. His father, Paulassie Pootoogook, is a well-known Cape Dorset carver, and his late mother, Ishuhungitok was an artist. Mosesee's older brother Anakadlak is also a carver. Mosesie Pootoogook began carving at the age of eleven. His father taught him to carve, and sometimes they work together making carvings. His favourite subjects to carve are dancing bears, seals and walrus, and he prefers to work in serpentine stone because it is softer than marble.