A new exhibition titled "Qillaniq" opens at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, showcasing over 70 Indigenous circumpolar artists from around the world. Curated by Laakkuluk Williamson and Taqralik Partridge, both Inuit artists, the show was assembled in just two years and features works made from materials like arctic cotton, fish skin, and smoked caribou hide, exploring themes of family, connection to land, and Indigenous radical joy.
The exhibition matters because it reframes the concept of Arctic sovereignty from a geopolitical term to a deeply personal and cultural one, emphasizing Indigenous peoples' ongoing relationship with their homeland and their resistance to colonization through art. By bringing together artists from across the circumpolar north, "Qillaniq" highlights the strength and closeness of the Indigenous arts community, offering a powerful counter-narrative to current political debates about Arctic security and annexation.