President’s Message

I would like to start this 30th anniversary issue of the Inuit Art Quarterly, my first as the newly-appointed President of the Board of Directors, by both looking back on all that we have accomplished and by addressing change. I’ve been involved with the Inuit Art Foundation for 18 years and a lot has changed in that time. Life is always changing and can be a bit scary, but it’s a very necessary process to make space for exciting, new things. We have new staff members, who are just beginning their journeys with us, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they will build on the hard work of the people who have come before them. With these new additions, however, we also say goodbye to two of our board members, Billy Gauthier and Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory. I would like to thank them for being there for us; they have and will continue to move mountains as artists and activists. Their contributions to the Foundation will not be forgotten and will always be appreciated. In this issue, we are also honoured to announce that we have taken control of the Igloo Tag Trademark program from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. We announced the acquisition of the program during the wonderful annual Nunavut Arts Festival, here in Iqaluit, coordinated by the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association. This trademark is something that we feel protects us and is known worldwide and, now, will finally be run by an Inuit-led organization with an Inuk Program Coordinator. It’s our confidence booster. This feels like welcoming back an old friend from years ago, and we look forward to having this program running again, as it’s one of our identities as artists and as Inuit. We thank you for being with us and supporting us for 30 years, and we hope you enjoy this landmark issue of the Inuit Art Quarterly.