Iqqaumaviit? Remembering the Inuit Behind the Co-ops

Remembering the Inuit Behind the Co-ops

Inuit artists, colleagues and family members remember the impact of legacy artists in the Inuit art co-operative movement.

1960 Purvirnituq Co-operative Puvirnituq, Nunavik, QC

1960 Kuujjuaq Co-operative Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, QC

1961 Holman Eskimo Co-op Ulukhaktok, Inuvialuit Settlement Region, NT

This issue’s Portfolio tells stories about the founding of Canadian Arctic artist co-operatives with a focus on the contributions of the Inuit involved. Examining the roles of hard-working local Inuit artists like Kananginak Pootoogook, RCA (1935–2010), Jeannie Snowball (1906–2002), Levi Qumaluk (1919–1997), Jessie Oonark, CM, RCA (1906–1985) and Helen Kalvak, CM, RCA (1901–1984), who were essential in establishing and maintaining artist co-operatives across the Canadian Arctic.

Historically non-Inuit have been celebrated almost exclusively for the establishment and upkeep of Inuit artist co-operatives. Certainly, men like James Houston, OC, and Father Henri Tardy were integral in the training and development of printmaking and art studios in the Northwest Territories during the 1900s. However, without the hard work and art created by Inuit artists there would be no co-operatives. To celebrate the legacies of early twentieth-century Inuit artists we explore the roles of Inuit in the early days of co-operative art movements in Kinngait (Cape Dorset), NU; Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, QC; Puvirnituq, Nunavik, QC; Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), NU, and Ulukhaktok Inuvialuit Settlement Region, NT.

Nunavtisavut, the Inuit region of Arctic Labrador, is not represented on the following pages because they were not recognized as Inuit by the federal government until the 1980s. As a result, artist co-operatives were not provided the same funding or support in the region. Despite this injustice, Nunatsiavummiut were and continue to be prolific artists with a growing representation in the international art community.