Artist Statement

Almost every aspect of Inuit life has a belief attached to it: a way of showing people how to honour their values. As a self taught emerging photographer, Katherine Takpannie honours her Inuit worldview through her lens; one that is strongly grounded in social accountability and unity. To her, photography is the best medium to reclaim her identity and explore her experiences as an urban Inuk. Katherine has studied her history, culture and language, and uses her knowledge to seamlessly convey her vision and emotion.  Katherine's visual language expands out from lush landscapes, to intimate self portraits, and gritty urban scenes. Takpannie's artistic practice also focuses on revealing the complexities and nuances of urban Inuit life, which includes capturing performative and political gestures of contemporary issues that Indigenous Canadians face daily. Katherine aims to help raise awareness, and bring forth important conversations through her work. 

Artist CV

Katherine Takpannie's CV


Exhibits

In Our Hands: Native Photography, 1890 to Now, Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2023

Meltwater, Fogo Island Arts, 2023

Recent Acquisitions, University of Lethbridge Art Gallery,  2023

Let Me Take You There, University of Toronto Art Gallery, 2023

Inuit Sanaugangit, Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq, 2023 

Movement: Expressive Bodies in Art, National Gallery of Canada, 2022 

Reflect, Olga Korper Gallery, 2022 

Land Back, The Contemporary Native Art Biennial (BACA), 2022

Holding Pattern, City of Ottawa, 2021

Franchissements, Galerie UQO, 2021

NGPA Exhibit, National Gallery of Canada, 2021

CONTACT: Toronto NGPA Exhibit, National Gallery of Canada, 2021

One, PAMA Peel Art Gallery + Museum, 2021

Enchanted, Olga Korper Gallery, 2021

CONTACT: She Has Something To Say, Olga Korper Gallery, 2021

Napaaqtulik (Forest), Corridor 45|75, 2021

Starting Over... Again., Olga Korper Gallery, 2021

Hindsight, City of Ottawa, 2020

Microcosm, City of Ottawa, 2020

Indspire & SAW Nordic Lab, Award Ceremony, 2020

They Forgot We Were Seeds, Carleton University Art Galler, 2020

Signal, City of Ottawa Art Collection, 2019

Kaleidoscope, City of Ottawa Art Collection, 2018

Getting Under Our Skin,  Art Gallery of Guelph, 2018

Vectors of Transmission, Art Gallery of Guelph, 2021


Workshops/Presentations

Gathering Our Voices, BC Friendship Native Centre, March 2023

Land-based photo project, Carleton University, 2022 

Katherine Takpannie: On the Intersection of Life and Art, PAMA Peel Art Gallery + Museum, October 2021

The Power of Inclusion: A Canadian Coast Guard Diversity Symposium, November 2020

First Peoples Studies, Concordia, November 2020

They Forgot We Were SeedsAugust 2020

Canada Council for the Arts, February 2020

Governor General's Winter Celebration, January 2018

Winterlude, February 2018

Inuit Awareness Workshops, March 2018

The Inuit Story, A Dramatization, Arts Court TheaterMarch 2018 

Hui Malama O Ke Kai, June 2018

Papahana Kuaola, June 2018

Cultural PerformerSeptember 2016 - June 2018

Evening of Inuit Culture & Music, National Arts Center, February 2017

Winterlude, February 2017

Oslo Opera House, April 2017

Sami Film Institut, May 2017

Sami Parliament, May 2017

Sami Joatkkaskuvla Karasjokas school, May 2017

Canada Beyond 150: Policy for a Diverse and Inclusive Future, June 2017


Publications

PHOTOGRAPHS

Portraits of Care, Body Shop North America, 2021

Traditional Indigenous Medicine, Elle, 2021

Winter/Fall, Spring/Summer, Inuit Art Quarterly, 2021

Autumn Peltier, Canadian Geographic, 2021

'Lowtide', Canadian Geographic, 2021

Autumn Peltier, Canadian Wildlife Magazine, 2021

Chuk Odenigbo, Canadian Wildlife Magazine, 2021

Rooted, Vanier BIA, 2020

Untitled, Vanier BIA, 2020

Jessica Kotierk Archival Material, Inuit Art Quarterly, 2019

Landscapes Paysages', Spring 2018. Vol. 20 no. 1

"Nunavik Sivunitsavut Officially Opens!", Makivik magazine, 2017

The Story of Canada in 150 Objects’, Canadian Geographic and The Walrus, 2017

ARTICLES

Split Tooth Book Review, Up Here, 2019

"The Way Forward: Breaking the Cycle by Reconnecting with Culture and Values", Up Here, 2019

“Why Didn’t We Know This Sooner?”, Naniiliqpita magazine, 2017

"Hidden Homelessness", Inuktitut magazine,  2007



Awards/Grants

Indigenous Arts Support: Grants for Individuals, Ontario Arts Council, 2022

New Generation Photography Award -  National Gallery of Canada, 2020

SAW Prize for New Works - Galerie SAW Gallery, 2020

Indigenous Visual Artists' Materials - Ontario Arts Council, 2020

Community Cares: Emergency Response Fund for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Individuals Working in the Arts, Indigenous Curatorial Collective, 2020


Work Experience

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Indigenous Arts Centre, 2023- Present

Canadian Heritage, Reconciliation, Treaties and Engagement, Research Analyst, 2021-2023

Canadian Heritage, Knowledge Centre for Indigenous Inclusion, Coordinator Inuit Interdepartmental Working Group, 2021 

Canadian Heritage, Indigenous Languages Branch - Research Analyst, 2021 

City of Ottawa Cultural Funding Support Section Equity and Inclusion Committee Member, January 2020 - January 2022

Employment and Social Development of Canada, Indigenous Programs Directorate - Program Officer, October 2018 - February 2021

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada – Junior Implementation Officer, May - August 2017

SAW Gallery - Intern, August 2015 – November 2015


Education

Nunavut Sivuniksavut – Advanced Inuit Studies, September 2017 - May 2018

Eight month Algonquin College Certificate program that focuses on the Implementation of the Nunavut Agreement, Circumpolar Indigenous, Northern Public and Policy Administration, Political Science, Research and Community Development, and Inuktitut.

Nunavut Sivuniksavut – Inuit Studies, September 2016 – May 2017
Eight month Algonquin College Certificate program focusing on the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, Inuit-Government Relations, Contemporary Issues, Inuit history, Inuktitut, and English.


Volunteer

Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects - Board of Directors, November 2020-May 2021

Nunavut Sivuniksavut - Board of Directors’ Student Representative (Voting Position), January 2018 -July 2018

Using Format