FAQ

Who are Inuit?

Inuit are an Aboriginal people who live in the Arctic environments of Russia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland. They are culturally and linguistically distinct from First Nations. Inuit literally means "the people" in Inuktitut, the language spoken by many Inuit.

What is an inuksuk?

An inuksuk (plural, inuksuit) is a formation of rocks made by Inuit in the Arctic. It literally means “human substitute,” and they can have many functions, from passing time to indicating food caches.

How long have Arctic peoples been producing art?

Art has been produced in the Arctic for centuries. Though Pre-Dorset cultures made some art objects, the Dorset were the first to really make art (beginning around 800 BCE). Their successors, the Thule also produced art objects, though they were quite different. The modern era of Inuit art production began in the late 1940s.

How are the raw materials for the artworks obtained – are animals hunted just for the purposed of art-making?

Almost all the stone used by Inuit artists comes from the Arctic and is mined by the artists themselves or available to purchase through the local cooperative. Animals are never hunted solely for art-making. Caribou shed their antlers every year, leaving an abundant supply for artists. In addition, caribou, muskoxen, whales, seals and walruses are all part of the Inuit diet, so no part of the animal is wasted. Whalebone must be fossilized before it is carved, so sculptures made from whalebone are made from material that is at least 50 to 100 years old.

How does the Gallery acquire works for sale?

The MIA Gallery obtains Inuit art directly from Inuit owned cooperatives and art marketing services, such as Canadian Arctic Producers, La Federation du Cooperatives du Nouveau-Quebec and the Northwest Company, which ensures equitable sale of the work. All profits made from the sale of a piece at the Gallery directly support the museum's operational costs as well as the artists and their communities.