Celebrating arts in the Arctic

Kahnawa’kehró:non Molly Huntington used to think Kahnawake was small - that was until she touched down in Inuvik, home to only around 3,000 people.

She was in the community for the Great Northern Arts Festival, a five-day celebration showcasing the best in Indigenous art from across Turtle Island.

“It feels amazing to be able to have these opportunities to show the world my artwork and connect with people. Everything feels like it was meant to be, and that I was put on this Earth to share my work with other people,” she said.

“I met lifelong friends who I hope to see in the near future.”

Huntington’s brand Roots and Patterns sees her print her illustrated designs on textiles and wallpaper, and she had been selling her wares at a market several months ago when a woman mentioned the festival to her.

Driven to take her work to the Arctic Circle, Huntington applied to attend the festival and was delighted to be accepted by the Great Northern Arts Festival committee.

The festival featured a wealth of workshops and events as well as a market, where Huntington was able to share her designs with fellow attendees. She brought along some of her wallpaper and textiles, as well some lifestyle pieces, including her piece Grandma Helen’s Kimono, which is an elegant silk robe adorned with a print of Huntington’s floral illustrations.

Workshops included antler ring carving, drawing and painting, sewing, wall-hanging, and poetry.

“It was really amazing to see how other artists have a great impact on other people, seeing them spark joy in other people, and it was a super inclusive and supportive experience,” she said.

A highlight of the trip was participating in a workshop with Robyn Scott titled “Wild Textures: Exploring Northern Wildlife Painting.” Scott is a settler artist based in Yellowknife, and Huntington said she was inspired by hearing about how she splits her year in half, spending six months teaching and six months making art.

“She taught us how to properly mix paint and blend paints together properly, and it really inspired me to get back into painting,” Huntington said.

She also connected with Robert Porter, an Inuk artist from Nunavut. His work is illustrative, using ink pens and often inspired by traditional Inuit tattoos.

“His work really stood out to me, and how he connected so deeply to his artwork. He was definitely an artist that takes his time and does amazing storytelling through his art,” Huntington said.

Huntington even had some time to explore the town, and she was excited to see the beautiful landscapes of the north lit up by bright sunlight even at 10 p.m.

“I love Inuvik, it was my first time in the Arctic. It was beautiful, calm, and there were such supportive people, everyone there was supportive of each other and open,” she said.

“They loved sharing their culture and spaces with all the artists and the tourists who are going through Inuvik to the Arctic Ocean.”

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