The Passing Of Emily Novalinga & Normee Ekoomiak

This month we mark the passing of two prominent Inuit artists.

Just over a week ago Emily Novalinga, a published poet and accomplished story teller, passed away in her sleep in Montreal. Emily was recently selected the recipient of the first Aumaaggiivik grant awarded by the Nunavik Arts Secretariat’s Fund for Arts and Literature, and was about to embark on a story telling and poetry community reading tour for children in Nunavik.

Below is a short video of her discussing her "Sparkling Igloo" poem.

A few days later Normee Ekoomiak, a gifted embroiderer, painter, and author whose work was shown at galleries in both Canada and the United States passed away quietly at the Ottawa Mission Hospice in Ottawa.

Although he experienced significant challenges over the course of his life he did not let them get him down and was known for his kindness and generosity. An example of this was the donation of his art material to children's programs at the Centre for Aboriginal Health after medical complications prevented him from using them.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest condolences to the families of these two exceptional people, their passing is a loss not only to their families, but to the Inuit artistic community as a whole.

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