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
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 Seeds, August 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 Theater, March 2018
Hui Malama O Ke Kai, June 2018
Papahana Kuaola, June 2018
Cultural Performer, September 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