Nunavut Development Corporation

There's always something new! This week, we processed a dozen boxes of new carvings from Cape Dorset. We always get excited when we receive new works of art - who doesn't? The artists are running out of stone to use, so we're seeing some fantastic small pieces and white marble sculptures. The artists usually don't favour working in marble as they're extremely hard, eat through the tools and take more skill & time. We certainly appreciate them even more for those reasons. Happy weekend, everyone!

Here are some great examples of Sedna (Sanna in Inuktitut), the vengeful sea goddess, from various Cape Dorset (Kinngait in Inuktitut) artists. There are a few different versions about how she came to be, but in most of them her fingers are chopped off, from which the sea mammals (seal, walrus, whales, etc) were created. A shaman must go into the sea to wash and comb her hair to appease her, if the hunters are to have successful harvests.

They said Spring is coming earlier this year... We'll believe it when we see it for ourselves. Until then there is more refreshing cold air and snow to be enjoyed! Sealskin mittens from Arviat, Nunavut

We have one other carving that shows an example of the traditional Inuit tattoos. A soapstone carving by Jaco Ishulutaq, from Pangnirtung (Pangniqtuuq in Inuktitut), Nunavut. The facial tattoos were usually a girl's first tattoos, done on the forehead, cheeks and/or chin.

Damien Iqualla created this piece with dolomite stone and inlayed copper, depicting traditional tattoos. The tradition of tattooing had almost disappeared in the late 1800's, but have been revitalized for a few decades now. Traditionally, each tattoo had a meaning; an accomplishment in sewing and coming of age, for example. It has evolved over time, but the tattoos unmistakably represent Inuit pride. Here, the tattoos are not symmetrical: As Damien explains, maybe they are not the arms of one person. From Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.

Are you an Inuit Jewellery, Footwear or Accessory Designer? V.A.F is looking to collaborate with a select few designers for Paris Fashion Week. If you want to ...see your designs alongside V.A.F on the Paris runway we would love to hear from you! We want to ensure that all of our models are showcasing Inuit made art from head to toe. Contact [email protected] for more details and to apply.

There's always something new! This week, we processed a dozen boxes of new carvings from Cape Dorset. We always get excited when we receive new works of art - who doesn't? The artists are running out of stone to use, so we're seeing some fantastic small pieces and white marble sculptures. The artists usually don't favour working in marble as they're extremely hard, eat through the tools and take more skill & time. We certainly appreciate them even more for those reasons. Happy weekend, everyone!

Here are some great examples of Sedna (Sanna in Inuktitut), the vengeful sea goddess, from various Cape Dorset (Kinngait in Inuktitut) artists. There are a few different versions about how she came to be, but in most of them her fingers are chopped off, from which the sea mammals (seal, walrus, whales, etc) were created. A shaman must go into the sea to wash and comb her hair to appease her, if the hunters are to have successful harvests.

They said Spring is coming earlier this year... We'll believe it when we see it for ourselves. Until then there is more refreshing cold air and snow to be enjoyed! Sealskin mittens from Arviat, Nunavut

We have one other carving that shows an example of the traditional Inuit tattoos. A soapstone carving by Jaco Ishulutaq, from Pangnirtung (Pangniqtuuq in Inuktitut), Nunavut. The facial tattoos were usually a girl's first tattoos, done on the forehead, cheeks and/or chin.

Damien Iqualla created this piece with dolomite stone and inlayed copper, depicting traditional tattoos. The tradition of tattooing had almost disappeared in the late 1800's, but have been revitalized for a few decades now. Traditionally, each tattoo had a meaning; an accomplishment in sewing and coming of age, for example. It has evolved over time, but the tattoos unmistakably represent Inuit pride. Here, the tattoos are not symmetrical: As Damien explains, maybe they are not the arms of one person. From Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.

Are you an Inuit Jewellery, Footwear or Accessory Designer? V.A.F is looking to collaborate with a select few designers for Paris Fashion Week. If you want to ...see your designs alongside V.A.F on the Paris runway we would love to hear from you! We want to ensure that all of our models are showcasing Inuit made art from head to toe. Contact [email protected] for more details and to apply.