The National Gallery of Canada has opened Qillaniq, billed as the world's largest Indigenous circumpolar art exhibition. Featuring over 80 works by more than 70 artists from across the Arctic—including Inuit Nunaat, Sápmi, Alaska, and Denendeh—the show spans print, video, installation, and sculpture. It was curated by an all-Indigenous team including Laakkuluk Williamson, Jocelyn Piirainen, Liisa-Rávná Finbog, Taqralik Partridge, Nadia Jackinsky-Sethi, and Ooleepeeka Eegeesiak. The title, an Inuktitut word for the shimmering light on water, reflects the exhibition's focus on joy and strength within Indigenous communities.
This exhibition matters because it centers Indigenous voices and perspectives from across the circumpolar world, challenging colonial travel routes and fostering connection among often-disconnected Arctic communities. By celebrating shared materials and traditions—like salmon and Arctic cotton grass—the show amplifies a sense of togetherness and cultural pride. It also highlights the importance of collaborative curation and the revitalization of Indigenous curatorial practice within a major national institution.