Inuvialuit artist reconnects with roots through carving

An Inuvialuit artist who was bornin Yellowknife andraised in Edmonton was inInuvikrecently to reconnect with their culture andcreate soapstone carvings.

Jade NasogaluakCarpenter, who uses pronouns they and them, said their mom is from Tuktoyaktuk and their dad is from SachsHarbour, N.W.T. NasogaluakCarpenter hasn't beenback in the area since they were five years old.

• David Ruben Piqtoukun: 'Through stone carving, I learned a lot about my people'

Now 25, Nasogaluak Carpenter isone of two artists selected to participatein aCanadian Artresidency program.

Canadian Art is a charitable non-profit foundation. Theprogram Nasogaluak Carpenter is in allows one artist from the South and another from the North to visit the opposite region.

Nasogaluak Carpenter was inInuvik in mid-Julyto return to their roots and be immersed in Inuvialuit culture.

"I was worried about not being accepted into the culture as a southerner,but that really hasn't been the case,"saidNasogaluakCarpenter.

Listerine bottle, razor among carvings

During the visit to Inuvik, Nasogaluak Carpenter carved at the theInuvikCommunity Greenhouse and the Great Northern Arts Festival, where they learned from Inuvialuit carvers.

• After years of struggles, Great Northern Arts Festival sees boost in visitors

Nasogaluak Carpenter's sculptures are quite different from typical Northern soapstone carvings. They include a Listerine bottle, razor and pilot biscuit.

"I showed [my aunt] the razor blade, and she just busted out laughing because she was like, 'Oh, this is not traditional.'"

Although the residency program has been going on since 2014, this is the first time an Inukartist from the South has gone north.Canadian Art saidit took that into consideration when selecting Nasogaluak Carpenter.

The main thing I've been thinking about is framing my artwork differently.- Jade Nasogaluak Carpenter

"I think [NasogaluakCarpenter] hasdone so much with it in a relatively short period of time," said Nicholas Brown, director of programs and partnerships at Canadian Art.

The program, calledTD North/South Artist Exchange, wrapped up on Aug. 3, and Nasogaluak Carpenter said the experience has allowed them to learn and grow as an artist.

"The main thing I've been thinking about is framing my artwork differently instead of making it a sad story, making it an empowering story," said NasogaluakCarpenter.