GREAT

NORTHERN

ARTS

FESTIVAL

Hunters. Silas Qulaut, Iglulik, Nunavut.

Welcome to The 2021 Great Northern Arts Festival: Returning To Our Roots Artist Gathering

a three-day event for artists to learn, share and reconnect.

Welcome from the Board

Ublumi! Drin Gwiinzii! Atitu! Bon jour! Good day! It’s been almost two years since we last gathered under the midnight sun to celebrate the richness and diversity of northern art. Little did we know when we said goodbye at the end of the last Great Northern Arts Festival in July 2019 that it would be so long before we could see one another again - or welcome travellers to our vibrant arctic town here on the traditional territories of the Inuvialuit and Gwich’in people.

The Festival is coming back in 2021, but in a different way this summer, as we all try to remain safe while slowly recovering from the pandemic. This time, because of Covid 19 travel restrictions, we can only welcome artists living within the Northwest Territories. The Festival is also going to be shorter, given that it won’t be possible for many visitors to come to Inuvik. But it is still important to provide artists, carvers, painters, jewellers, performers, and traditional craftspeople this meaningful opportunity to meet face to face - to create and learn from one another, and to think about how to bring together a better future for all of us and the arts we practice.

The Great Northern Arts Festival - always a celebration of life, culture, tradition and creativity - would never be possible without the support of our community. Sincere gratitude goes out to our sponsors, without whom the festival would not occur. Many thanks to all the volunteers, staff, and artists who give so much of their energy and passion and who have kept the Festival going all these years - ever since 1989!

We look forward to having artists come together to share an exciting, educational and inspiring three days with us here in Inuvik this July. And next year, in 2022, we look forward to being able to welcome artists from across the North and visitors from around the earth to gather under the midnight sun once again!

Quyanaqpak, Quyanainni, Mahsi Cho, Merci, and Thanks.

- The Board of Directors of the Great Northern Arts Society

Welcome from the Mayor

Welcome one and all to Inuvik, Place of People.

The Town of Inuvik is a proud sponsor of the Great Northern Arts Festival. Our town and the lands surrounding it were carved from the lands over the millennia by the branches of the mighty Mackenzie River.

Inuvik is a place where the artistic endeavors of the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit are the foundation for the cultural mosaic of our community, and the Great Northern Arts Festival is an integral part of Inuvik’s summers. Residents and visitors alike look forward to and enjoy the festival’s iconic diversity of activities, ceremonies, workshops, exhibitions and camaraderie. The artistry that you will encounter has often been passed from generation to generation, shared among friends, taught in workshops, and always done with creativity and respect at its core.

I hope that throughout the festival you have opportunity to chat with local people and elders, while also enjoying the spectacular beauty of the land that surrounds our community.

Congratulations to the board, the staff, the volunteers, and everyone involved in making this annual event a wonderful one!

Quyanainni, Mahsi Cho, Merci, Thank you

Natasha Kulikowski

Mayor

Town of Inuvik

GREAT NORTHERN ARTS FESTIVAL: Returning To Our Roots

July 13-15, 2021

This year only, the Great Northern Arts Festival is taking place in a modified form, in order to keep our artists and the public safe as we all begin to recover from the global pandemic.

The 2021 festival, Returning To Our Roots: Great Northern Artist Gathering is a three-day long event that primarily focuses on the artists themselves. Artists and performers residing within the NWT are welcome to apply. Next year, we hope we can once again host artists from throughout the North, and visitors from everywhere. Meanwhile, Returning To Our Roots will offer workshops for artists, professional development seminars and other events, plus the chance to collaborate and exchange ideas. To regroup with one another. To reunite and reconnect.

The first ever Great Northern Arts Festival, held in 1989, was a similar event - a get-together of artists from remote communities across the North who couldn’t ordinarily expect to meet, all coming together to create art not only art but lifelong friendships.

Workshops and art sales will also be available to limited numbers of the general public.