One of the most well-established Inuit artists working out of Kinngait and the Cape Dorset Fine Arts Cooperative, Saimaiyu Akesuk was heavily influenced by her grandfather.

When asked why so many of her works feature birds SA国际影视传媒� two of four of her pieces in the 2023 Cape Dorset Annual Print Collection that was on display this fall at Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum in Iqaluit were of birds SA国际影视传媒� Asekuk replied, SA国际影视传媒淚 saw my grandfather making birds in his carvings, so I think I inherited that. He moved in with us when I think I was four, and I grew up with him until he passed. When I think back, I really didnSA国际影视传媒檛 care for his carvings or his art [as a child]SA国际影视传媒� they were plain [to me], not much detail, so sometimes I think I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 look at itSA国际影视传媒� I think about how he used to help feed us at home [by selling his carvings]. Sometimes I think he was guiding me. Sometimes I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know what I was going to do [when I began a drawing], the paper was plain.

SA国际影视传媒淚 remember the first time I drew one of his birds. It was my third drawing actually. I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 sign it. I just took it down to the shop and [the proprietor] recognized it right away. He called it SA国际影视传媒楲atchaolossieSA国际影视传媒檚 Birds.SA国际影视传媒� I love helping my family and people, not just my kids or myself, so sometimes I think [my grandfather] is guiding me.SA国际影视传媒�

That guidance has translated into international success as Akesuk recently returned from West Baffin Eskimo Co-operativeSA国际影视传媒檚 50th anniversary celebration kickoff in Miami last month, where she was the featured artist for the opening of the Canada Goose flagship store in the city. The event was held in collaboration with the Co-op, which finances some of her work.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 still so unbelievable, even though it already happenedSA国际影视传媒� I was amazed. I just laugh about it sometimes because I never thought I would do something like this. I tried not to be nervous [at the show].

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I [was] starting out, I never, ever knew that I was going to draw. So I say [when ISA国际影视传媒檓 working on a drawing] that itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to come out [the way] it wants to be, how it wants to turn out. It always comes out as something totally different.SA国际影视传媒�

Originally, Akesuk went to college to become a teacher. She spent her lectures and class time doodling to stay awake. An artist classmate kept encouraging her talent, and eventually took her to buy supplies. In school, Akesuk did not enjoy art class or receive good marks in the subject.

SA国际影视传媒淣ever in my life did I think I would be an artistSA国际影视传媒� not only did I come out [of college] as a teacher, I came out as an artist and a teacher,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Akesuk taught until 2020, when she resigned because she was no longer happy in the profession.

SA国际影视传媒淚 couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be where I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 doing my best. It wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 fair to the students.SA国际影视传媒�

It was then that she became a full-time artist while working part-time with the court of justice in Kinngait and taking care of her children.

For aspiring Inuit artists, AkesukSA国际影视传媒檚 advice is SA国际影视传媒渄onSA国际影视传媒檛 overthink what youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to work on.SA国际影视传媒� She also emphasized how essential it is for an artist to believe in themselves and their own talent despite setbacks.

SA国际影视传媒淓ven if you fail, you can try again. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 part of life. Figure out how to do it in a different way, as long as you learn from those failures,SA国际影视传媒� she advised.

As for the future and projects on the horizon, Akesuk revealed little.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l see. I really donSA国际影视传媒檛 like talking about it because plans change. So keep checking to see if anythingSA国际影视传媒檚 happening [with me]. I wonSA国际影视传媒檛 announce anything until just before [it becomes reality].SA国际影视传媒�

Find out more about AkesukSA国际影视传媒檚 work under the SA国际影视传媒済raphic artistsSA国际影视传媒� section at dorsetfinearts.com.