About the Master Class
Piita Irniq - Healthy Communities and Inuit Knowledge

Humber Galleries welcomes Piita Irniq: artist, politician, elder, mentor, and advocate for the preservation of Inuit culture and the Inuktitut language. In this master class, Irniq will share insights on healthy communities, culture, Inuit Knowledge, and possible policy and practice change. Irniq draws a parallel between the Inuk hunter’s patience and the struggle to implement policies and practices needed to heal the damage resulting from colonial experiences: "I can wait for hours at a breathing hole, I can outlast bureaucracy!”

Taking place at our L Space Gallery at the Humber Lakeshore Campus, this master class will engage many of the themes in our current exhibition Channel 51:Igloolik, and will be an excellent opportunity for participants to think alongside Isuma Video Collective’s vast body of work(s). It will offer a learning experience for arts workers, curators, and those interested in Inuit Knowledge and public policy.

The event will run from 6 to 8 PM - bring a packed dinner and let us share a cup of tea with you. We welcome you to be part of the discussion by joining the master class, and hearing about these issues from a renowned Inuit cultural and political leader.

The talk will be limited to 30 people - SOLD OUT

 

About Piita Irniq

Piita Irniq is an Inuk politician, elder, mentor, and artist. He helped to establish the territory of Nunavut and served as its second Commissioner. Today he visits with Inuit who are serving time in prison to help them connect to their traditional ways and undertakes speaking engagements about the impact of colonization on the people of the north. He is a strong proponent for the preservation of Inuit culture and knowledge. He currently resides in Ottawa.