 |
magazine / jf09
 |
January/February 2009 issue |
|
|
|
FEATURE
Nunavut — Project Naming
The goal of this project is to identify the unknown faces of Inuit in photograph collections between
the late 18th century to the mid-20th century
at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) in Ottawa.
By Sheri Gagnon
 |
Margaret Uyauperk Aniksak, Arviat, ca. 1938
Photo: Library and Archives Canada / Donald B. Marsh Fonds |
|
|
|
Snapshots of life in northern Canada fill many photography collections at Library and Archives
Canada (LAC) in Ottawa. Each of the thousands of images tells a story — sometimes
it illustrates ancient traditions, other times it’s simply a scene, a moment captured
in history. But it’s the stories these photographs don’t tell that are becoming
the most meaningful. Many of the faces are unknown because past photographers failed to
include proper descriptive information. For the past five years, Inuit in Ottawa and Nunavut
have been working together to solve the mystery and put names to faces — before it
is too late.
Photo Gallery
View photographs from Nunavut that have been identified as a result of Project Naming. |
|
| Click photo to enlarge |
Their work, called Project Naming, was the brainchild of Murray Angus, an instructor at the
Ottawa-based Nunavut Sivuniksavut, an eight-month college program to prepare Nunavut youth
for educational and career opportunities. His students already visited LAC once a year to
look for historic photographs of their communities. When Angus noticed how few of the photos
were properly identified, he suggested the project to give people from Nunavut more access
to the collections. Students bring the images to Nunavut on CD, sit with elders to review
the photos. The process has been rewarding and emotional for both generations: Elder Nilaulaaq
Aglukkaq of Gjoa Haven found a photo of her late father during one of the collection presentations,
and Mathewsie Ashevak, a young student, was able to learn more about his past through the
stories and memories that arose from the photos.
Phase I of the project began in 2001 as approximately 500 photos taken in the 1940s and
1950s were transferred to CD and taken to Igloolik, Kugluktuk, Taloyoak, and Arviat. Elders
from the communities were able to identify roughly three-quarters of the photos. Phase II
has included images from the early 1900s from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, National
Film Board of Canada, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and various private collections.
To date, elders have been able to identify and name hundreds of the people in the photos.
To learn more about the project or view additional photos, visit the Project Naming website: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca.
| Comments on this article | Leave a comment | Most limits for people occur between their own two ears. Let's encourage our children to dream and tell them they can succeed! Inspire change in the youth, a worthy goal.
Leafs will win Stanley Cup YA I learned a lot and leafs represent Nunavut. Yes Leafs you are important to me.
Has it been thought that project naming also be extended to Nunavik, that is arctic Quebec? I'd also wish to contact Earl Larden who wrote a comment last year. I'd appreciate help. Thank you.
i loved this article, i was only six when Nunavut became a territory but i still remember that day. i don't live in Nunavut now but i love going back and wish to live there again one day. This article reminds me that i need to keep my dreams alive, I want Nunavut to prosper.
It has been forty years since we taught in the eastern arctic in Sugluk now Salluit but hearing the throat singing again has brought a flood of memories. Well done girls
grise fiord. an eye opener. much enjoyed. thank you Lise. who shares my married name.
This was a fascinating article. I live in the UK and have a subscription to Canadian Geographic given me by a Canadian friend. This was an intriguing voyage into the very northern limits of human settlement - thank you.
Lisa brought me into the dreams, the reality and the richness of a peoples spirit flourishing in the midst of change.
Lisa Gregoire Has done a marvelous overview of a subject dear to my heart. The Inuit people . Thank You
if the people believe,it will happen.
|
|
|
