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Cape Dorset Prints at the Canadian Museum of Civilization Our Shared Legacy

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Title: Whalers in Amadjuak Harbour
Artist: Kopapik, Simeonie
Date: 1993

Title: The Enchanted Owl
Artist: Ashevak, Kenojuak
Date: 1960

Title: Owl and the Raven
Artist: Ashevak, Annago
Date: 1995
Title: Untitled; walrus
Artist: Parr
Date: 1962

Title: Bear's Head
Artist: Etidlooie, Sheojuk
Date: 1995

Title: Fishing Scene
Artist: Parr, Quvianatuliak
Date: 1963
Title: Preparing Skins for Kayak
Artist: Ashoona, Mayoreak
Date: 1982

Title: My Daughter's First Steps
Artist: Pootoogook, Napatchie
Date: 1990

Title: Loon's Descent
Artist: Kingwatsiak, Iyola
Date: 1992
Title: Timiaq Iqaluktuk (Bird caught its fish)
Artist: Manumie, Qavavau
Date: 1990

Title: Woman who went to the Moon
Artist: Qinnuayuak, Tikituk
Date: 1990

Title: Walrus Hunters Gather on Akulliq
Artist: Pudlat, Oshutsiak
Date: 1992
Title: The First Tourist
Artist: Pootoogook, Kananginak
Date: 1992

Title: The Solitary Arluk
Artist: Pudlat, Aoudla
Date: 1993

Title: The Stonehouse
Artist: Pootoogook, Johnny
Date: 1993
Title: Attentive Birds
Artist: Ashevak, Kenojuak
Date: 1992

Title: The Whaler's Reel
Artist: Saila, Pitaloosie Pudlat
Date: 1992

Title: Kuuqapik (The River)
Artist: Niviaqsi, Pitseolak
Date: 1992
Title: Animal Acrobats
Artist: Teevee, Jamasie
Date: 1971

Title: Angako's Dream
Artist: Ashoona, Sorosiluto
Date: 1972

Title: Shaman's Dance
Artist: Saila, Pitaloosie Pudlat
Date: 1969
Title: Weasel
Artist: Ipeelee, Osuitok
Date: 1958

Title: Umingmuk
Artist: Pudlat, Pudlo
Date: 1970

Title: Aeroplane
Artist: Pudlat, Pudlo
Date: 1976
Title: Owl
Artist: Saila, Pauta
Date: 1964-1965

Title: Summer Tent of Old
Artist: Ashoona, Pitseolak
Date: 1969-1970

Title: Rabbit Eating Seaweed
Artist: Ashevak, Kenojuak
Date: 1958-1959
Title: Nascopie Reef
Artist: Pootoogook, Napatchie
Date: 1989

Title: A Meal of Char
Artist: Etidlooie, Kingmeata
Date: 1980

Title: The Ahigik Have Come
Artist: Teevee, Jamasie
Date: 1979
Title: Spirit of the Owl
Artist: Ashevak, Kenojuak
Date: 1980

Title: Boats I Have Known
Artist: Pootoogook, Kananginak
Date: 1981-1982

Title: Snow House of my Youth
Artist: Ashoona, Pitseolak
Date: 1980
Title: Spirit with Symbols
Artist: Pudlat, Pudlo
Date: 1961

Title: Sitjariak
Artist: Pootoogook, Kananginak
Date: 1975

Title: Ecclesiast
Artist: Pudlat, Pudlo
Date: 1969
Title: Owl
Artist: Qiatsuk, Lukta
Date: 1959

Title: Three Caribous
Artist: Niviaksiak
Date: 1957

Title: Mother Birds Protecting Young
Artist: Ashoona, Pitseolak
Date: 1961
Title: One Kind of Fish
Artist: Etidlooie, Kingmeata
Date: 1988

Title: Woman and Snow Bird
Artist: Saila, Pitaloosie Pudlat
Date: 1973

Title: Our Journey to Baffin
Artist: Qinnuayuak, Lucy
Date: 1982
Title: Strange Beasts
Artist: Kopapik, Simeonie
Date: 1963

Title: Nesting Birds
Artist: Samualie, Eliyakota
Date: 1976

Title: Myth of the Tuniit
Artist: Pootoogook, Napachie
Date: 2000
Title: Courtship Dance
Artist: Mikkigaq, Ohotaq
Date: 2001

Title: Brief Case
Artist: Pootoogook, Annie
Date: 2005

Title: Strange Ladies
Artist: Saila, Pitaloosie Pudlat
Date: 2006
Title: Quilt of Dreams
Artist: Ashoona, Shuvinai
Date: 2009

Title: Walrus Perch
Artist: Saggiatok, Kakulu
Date: 2003

Title: Inugagulligaq
Artist: Manumie, Qavavau
Date: 2002
Title: Gulls and Ravens
Artist: Ashevak, Kenojuak
Date: 2001

Title: Whale's Fate
Artist: Etidlooie, Sheojuk
Date: 1998

Title: Aana
Artist: Tuqiqki, Papiara
Date: 2004
Title: Dark Fantasy
Artist: Manumie, Qavavau
Date: 2008

Title: Owls in Moonlight
Artist: Teevee, Ningeokuluk
Date: 2007

Title: Family of Eight
Artist: Pitsiulak, Tim
Date: 2008
Title: Woman Who Lives in the Sun
Artist: Ashevak, Kenojuak
Date: 1960

Title: Woman Who Lives in the Sun
Artist: Ashevak, Kenojuak
Date: 1960

Title: Eskimo Leader
Artist: Saila, Pitaloosie Pudlat
Date: 1972
Title: Talelayou and Spirit Fish
Artist: Etidlooie, Kingmeata
Date: 1981

Title: Halibut
Artist: Teevee, Ningeokuluk
Date: 2009

Title: Qairuliit
Artist: Pitsiulak, Tim
Date: 2009

Inuit Prints from Cape Dorset makes Canada’s national collection of Inuit prints from Cape Dorset, in Nunavut publicly available for research, scholarship and appreciation. This website was made possible through a grant from Canadian Heritage, the assistance of Dorset Fine Arts, and the assistance of the West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative in Cape Dorset.

Kenojuak Ashevak and Kavavaow Mannomee in the process of creating the print "The Sun's Return", created by the stonecut and stencil technique photo Jimmy Manning, 1992-1993,
IMG2008-0938-0015-S, Photo © CMC

The Canadian Museum of Civilization purchased its first contemporary Inuit carvings in 1953. For more than 50 years, the Museum has continuously supported contemporary Inuit art through an active and evolving program of exhibiting, collecting, research and publishing. The relationship between Inuit artists and the Museum continues today.

Printmaking was introduced in the Arctic in the late 1950s. The Museum helped this new art flourish by acquiring complete annual collections of Inuit prints, which formed the basis of exhibitions at home and abroad. Inuit prints were acquired by the Museum in three ways:

by direct purchases from Arctic co-operatives, artists or Southern retailers
as donations from the public
as gifts from the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources

Today, the Museum builds its print collection through purchases and donations. This collection—a unique national treasure—is an important part of Canada’s artistic and cultural history. Want to donate? Here’s how you can be a part of the story.

While the Canadian Museum of Civilization hopes to make its entire print collection available online some day, Cape Dorset, the birthplace of Inuit printmaking, is our starting point. The Museum’s collection of Cape Dorset prints spans over five decades, from 1957 to the present. The collection, numbering almost 3,000 prints, shows the ongoing artistic and technical innovation and change in over three generations of Cape Dorset art.

Pitaloosie Saila, surrounded by children, using coloured pencils to draw what would become a print depicting two women photo Jimmy Manning, 1992-1993,
IMG2008-0938-0302-S, Photo © CMC

Prints also cover a great variety of themes. Some illustrate scenes from myth and memories of the old ways of life, while others depict the transforming life in the Arctic and the influence of outsiders. The land, ocean and Arctic animals are frequent subject matter, and evidence the deeply felt bonds between Inuit artists and their natural world. The artworks make eloquent statements about Inuit identity — past and present — and offer a unique window into Canada’s history.