Portraits of the Far North

Gerald Kuehl

Description

If portraits could speak, what fascinating stories would they tell? For over two decades, Manitoban artist Gerald Kuehl has travelled to the far-fl ung corners of Canada to draw out these answers from the last generation of Indigenous Peoples born on the land, and, pencil in hand, to record their likenesses and experiences. Picking up where Kuehl’s acclaimed Portraits of the North left off , Portraits of the Far North follows the artist as he crosses the 60th parallel into Nunavut to meet the few Inuit Elders who still remember the days when their people lived entirely off the bounty of the land. Kuehl’s astonishing graphite pencil drawings and accompanying stories—the result of his travels in the Far North over thirteen years, hundreds of interviews with Elders, and thousands of hours at the drawing board—provide an unprecedented, poignant account of the changing realities Inuit experienced over the course of the last century, and their bright hopes for the future.

Sujets

• Art Plastique
• Arts plastiques
• Portraits of the North
• Portraits
• Native American
• drawing
• Esquimal
• Inuit
• Indigenous
• Art
• North
• Portrait
• Nunavut
• Inuits

Informations

• Publié par: Éditions des Plaines
• Date de parution: 08 juin 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781989282328
• Langue: English

Extrait

P ORTRAITS OF THE F AR N ORTH
T EXT AND ART BY G ERALD K UEHL
When the char was running, we were always here, right by the river. We didn t have a worry in the world. The only other thing we needed was a bit of tea. We were poor, but we were proud and self-sufficient .
Samson Quinangnaq, upon visiting his homeland near the Back River
2019 Vidacom Publications
ISBN: 978-1-989282-30-4
Art Copyright 2019 by Gerald Kuehl
Text Copyright 2019 by Gerald Kuehl
All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyrights hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means-graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems-without the prior written permission of the publisher, or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a licence from Access Copyright, the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency.
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Manitoba Arts Council for its publishing program. We also acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the Government of Manitoba through the Publishing Tax Credit Program for our publishing activities.

Design: Dave Maddocks, Shine Branding
Editor-in-Chief: Joanne Therrien
Editor: Ben Vrignon
Copy Editor: Lynne Therrien
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication data available upon request.
Legal deposit 2019
Library and Archives Canada
Manitoba Legislative Library

Vidacom Publications
Les ditions des Plaines Book Publishers
P.O. Box 123 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2H 3B4
[e-mail]
www.plaines.ca
www.vidacom.ca
Printed and bound in Canada by Friesens Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
Background Information
The Drawing Process
An Example of the Drawing Process
Kangiqliniq (Rankin Inlet)
Anthony Amarok
Bernadette Okpik Patterk
Anthony Manernaluk
Cecile Kanayok Kablalik
Arsene Panniuq
Jenny Tootoo
Mariano Aupilardjuk
Moses Aliyak
Magdalina Naalungiaq Makitgaq
Raymond Ningeocheak
Marie Nattar
Thomas Ugjuk
Marie Tulimaaq
Tommy Tudlik
Maryanne Inuaraq Tattuinee
Pauline Saku Kolit
Rose Arnarjjuaq Ussak
Tikiraqjuaq (Whale Cove)
John Avaala Adjuk Monica Sivviaq Adjuk
Agnes Kakasak Teenar
Lewis Voisey
Tony Kinniksie
Cecile Ekwalak
Norman Voisey
Theresa Voisey
Arviat (Eskimo Point)
Helen Agaaqtuq Konek
David Hannaq
Joan Owingayak
Henry Isluanik
Martha Otuk
James Muckpah
Joseph Akatsiak
Pelagie Povaliraq Katsuak
Marc Alikaswa
Rhoda Akpaliapik Karetak
Luke Anowtalik
Mary Ayaq Anowtalik
Eva Ukanak Mukjunik
Charlie Atkak
Annie Alikaswa Sewoee
Igluligaarjuk (Chesterfield Inlet)
Anthony Amauyak
Matilda Omattok
Casimir Kriterdluk
Rosalie Sammurtok
Leo Mimialik
Theresa Kimmaliarjuk
Leonard Putulik
Theresa Papaluk Kukkiak
Louis Autut
Titi Kadluk
Naujaat (Repulse Bay)
Abraham Tagornak
Alice Nanorak
Donat Milortuk
Cecelia Angmadlok Angutialuk
Felix Kopak
Honore Aglukka
John Ivalutanar
Paniaq Siusangnark
Piita Taqtu Irniq
Sata Kidlapik
Winnie Crawford
Semi Malliki
Salliq (Coral Harbour)
Johnny Kataluk
Susie Angootealuk
Johnny Nakoolak
Michael Emiktowt
Mikitok Bruce
Qamani tuaq (Baker Lake)
Ada Eyetoaq Kingilik
Barnabus Arnasungaaq
Bessie Iquginnaq Scottie
Celina Utanaaq
Elizabeth Nurauyaqtuq Paungrat
Frederick Ford
Elizabeth Tululik Quinangnaq
Gideon Kuuk
Elizabeth Tunnuq
Emily Nipiha naaq Alerk
Hattie Haqpi Akilak
Hugh Tulurialik
Irene Avaalaaqiaq
Jacob Ikinilik
Irene Taviniq Kaluraq
Janet Akikungaa Mannik
John Killulark
Louisa Kunnuaq Kaluraq
John Haa naaq Nukik
Lucy Kownak
Margaret Narkyagik
Marion Pattungayak
Norman Attungala
Martha Nanautuaq Nukik
Paul Atutuvaa
Martha Eelomeegayuk Noah
Peter Aasivaaryuk
Martha Taliruq
Samson Amarok Quinangnaq
Mary Qaiqsaut Aqsaq Iqqaat
Silas Qiyuk
Nancy Kanayuq Mannik
Simon Tookoome
Ruth Qaulluaryuk Nuilaalik
Thomas Iksiraq
Suzanna Mautaritnaaq
Thomas Qaqimat
Toona Iquliq
Victoria Arqnaaluk Nugyougalik
Glossary
Bibliography Further Reading
This book is dedicated to the Inuit Elders within, each of whom is a vibrant thread in the rich tapestry of Inuit culture.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I d like to start with a very special thanks to the Morberg family and the founders of Calm Air International. Your travel sponsorship enabled me to visit the Kivalliq Region many times over those thirteen years, and much of the body of work found in this book was produced thanks to it.
I d like to extend my sincere thanks to:
Tara Tootoo Fotheringham-for sponsoring my first trip and for providing me with a place to stay on my many subsequent visits.
Bernadette and Bert Dean-for introducing me to many Elders in Rankin Inlet, and for providing me with opportunities to experience Inuit cuisine and culture.
Karen Yip-for your endless enthusiasm on this project. I could always count on your assistance when it came to travelling, hospitality, and introductions.
Jimmy Nugyougalik-for the fishing trips across Baker Lake and to White Hills Lake. Thanks to you, now I can say I have fished through six feet of ice.
David Ford and Cheryl Cook-for your warm welcome every time I visit the Jessie Oonark Centre in Baker Lake, and for displaying my work.
Don St. John-for purchasing my Arviat print collection and for providing me with a place to stay during my visits.
Darrel Greer, the long-standing editor of the Kivalliq New s- for keeping my face in the Kivalliq Region s public eye for so many years.
Rob Peters-thanks again! I ve come to rely on your counsel for many facets of my work. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Rachel Dutton-for your advice on navigating cultures other than my own.
Bernard Pribilski-whose pencil portraiture from so long ago still inspires me today.
Vidacom Publications-thank you Joanne Therrien, Ben Vrignon, and Lynne Therrien for helping bring these stories of the Far North to the world.
Dave Maddocks-for the masterful design of this book.
My siblings, John, Judy, and Sandra-for your unconditional love and encouragement.
My wife, Sara-for your unwavering support over all these years-and my sons, Kyler and Cade-for having to endure my enthusiastic outbursts every time I returned from an adventure or even an interview with an Elder. Cade, thanks for the helpful editorial comments.
I give a bow to those generous individuals who allowed me to stay in their homes during my travels: Tara Tootoo Fotheringham, John Strutchyski, Frank Tootoo, Bernadette and Bert Dean, Glen and Anna Brocklebank, Kim Swan, Len MacDonald, Shayne Courtoreille, Clayton and Bernice Croucher, L onie Aissaoui, Barry Pietersen, Chad Butler, Bobby and Angelina Suluk, Christine Aylward, Aubrey Bolt, and my good friend, the late Pete Garvey.
Finally, a huge thank you to the Inuit Elders I have had the great pleasure and honour to meet, photograph, interview, and draw. I hope your incredible stories will never be forgotten.
Gerald Kuehl
PREFACE
In 1997, I left my hometown of Winnipeg and set out to meet the Indigenous Peoples in Canada. For the next twenty-one years, I visited towns, villages, hamlets, and camps all over Northern Manitoba and Nunavut and met the people who lived there. I met them on streets and on the land, in fields, in forests, along riverbanks, and on the tundra. I met them in restaurants, in shopping malls, and in their homes. I met them at Sweat Lodges, Powwows, and Healing Circles. I met hundreds of individuals and befriended a great many of them. What I would learn from them has been invaluable.
Along the way, I saw the wide-reaching wake of centuries of normalized racism, the trauma inflicted by the notorious Indian residential school system, and the destruction caused by the deliberate flooding of traditional Indigenous lands. I learned about the persecution of the M tis and what the remaining Sayisi Dene have described as genocidal relocation at the hands of the federal government.
But I learned other things, too. I saw how residential school survivors had pressed forward, found peace, and accomplished great things. I witnessed unwavering optimism and resolve from those men and women who continue to face the giant that is the hydropower industry. And I was lucky enough to have been acquainted with rich and magnificent cultures that thrive today, and which will continue to do so. Adversity and courage are recurring themes in the life stories of many of these individuals, but the thread common to all of them is unquestionably resilience.
The portraits and stories of 106 M tis and First Nations Elders I met during my travels in Northern Manitoba and southern Nunavut were the subject of my first book, Portraits of the North , published in 2017. My effort was well received and it struck a chord with national and international audiences alike. During my time among the M tis and First Nations, I collected literature on Arctic life. It spoke of Inuit, a people who for millennia braved one of the world s most hostile environments. The harrowing tales of survival captured my imagination. But as I went through this material from the comfort of my home in the southern prairies, that world seemed so very far away. How would I ever get there? As I pondered this, Tara Tootoo Fotheringham, granddaughter of the legendary Jenny Tootoo, serendipitously invited me to exhibit my work in Rankin Inlet. With that, in 2002, I crossed Canada s 60th parallel, and so began my adventure in the Far North.
What followed was an astonishing and enlightening odyssey, guided by those who had lived in igluit and caribou skin tents as recently as the fifties and early sixties. These E