Evolving Art, Craft, and Tradition in Nunatsiavut

SPOTLIGHT

ᐃᓗᓕᖏᑦ ᐱᔭᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᖃᓪᓗᓇᑎᑐᑦ ᑭᓯᐊᓂ

A photograph of a curved building with a wooden exterior and tall narrow windows, located at the shore, with a large rolling mountain behind it.

This spotlight highlights the artwork of Inuit in Nunatsiavut. Nunatsiavut is one of the four regions that comprise Inuit Nunangat, with a settlement area that spans 72,520 square km of the northern region of Labrador. 

Historically, art has been a crucial component of culture and identity for Inuit in Nunatsiavut. Arts and crafts including textile arts, carvings, storytelling and more have had both practical and cultural significance. Today, many Inuit artists in Nunatsiavut create both traditional forms of art as well as art using modern media. The art created by Inuit artists in Nunatsiavut reflects the unique history, culture and traditions of their people, while highlighting their continuously evolving cultural identity. 

The Nunatsiavut Government is thrilled for this platform to showcase these Inuit artists and provide insight into the unique cultural landscape of Nunatsiavut. 

A group of 12 people stands in front of a building with blue clapboard siding, wearing parkas with various colours, cuts, and trims.
Parka-making workshop participants wearing their finished garments. COURTESY NUNATSIAVUT GOVERNMENT.

AnânauKatiget Tumingit Regional Inuit Women Ulu-Making Workshop
Youth from Nain and Hopedale learn cultural tool-making skills.

A Parka-Making Workshop in Postville
A three-day workshop teaches beginner sewers the basics of garment construction.

Artist Highlights from Illusuak Cultural Centre
Exhibits in Nain showcase Nunatsiavummiut representing their communities’ artistic knowledge.

Aunt Nellie’s Final Coat
The Nunatsiavut Government acquires a traditional commander coat with freehand embroidery from a respected Elder and master artist.

Barry Pottle
An Ottawa–based artist from Rigolet reflects on Urban Inuit identity.

A bundle of small purplish-blue wildflower buds emerge from under a piece of driftwood in a rocky area.
PHOTO: HOLLY ANDERSEN. COURTESY THE ARTIST.

David Merkuratsuk
A portfolio of drawings by the Nain-born artist.

Dawn Winters
An amateur photographer from Hopedale on capturing the beauty of the familiar and the fleeting.

Holly Andersen
A portfolio of landscape and wildlife photographs from the Makkovik artist.

How Nunatsiavut Artists Use Their Work to Fight Climate Change
Protecting water in the community of Rigolet.

Katelyn Jacque
A young photographer from Postville depicts the beauty of the land.

A photograph showing the face and neck of a sled dog with white fur. Snow is crusted around its face and its tongue is out, panting.
Samantha Jacque, All Tuckered Out. COURTESY THE ARTIST AND NUNATSIAVUT GOVERNMENT.

Nunatsiavut Art Strategy
The release of a new strategy geared toward improving access, fostering strong partnerships and supporting artist development.

Nunatsiavut’s National Indigenous Peoples Day Art & Craft Online Auction
How the Nunatsiavut art and craft community rallied around a pandemic initiative to support artists and strengthen the craft economy.

Raeann Brown
A Wabush-based artist, author and business-owner working across multiple media.

Samantha Jacque
A Postville photographer draws inspiration from the land.

Each week, the Arctic Arts Summit Digital Platform spotlights an important region of the circumpolar North or organization working to support Arctic artists and their practices. Spotlights are an exciting introduction to the variety of perspectives across the circumpolar world and we invite you to learn more across the platform.