One of the most well-established Inuit artists working out of Kinngait and the Cape Dorset Fine Arts Cooperative, Saimaiyu Akesuk was heavily influenced by her grandfather.
When asked why so many of her works feature birds — two of four of her pieces in the 2023 Cape Dorset Annual Print Collection that was on display this fall at Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum in Iqaluit were of birds — Asekuk replied, “I saw my grandfather making birds in his carvings, so I think I inherited that. He moved in with us when I think I was four, and I grew up with him until he passed. When I think back, I really didn’t care for his carvings or his art [as a child]… they were plain [to me], not much detail, so sometimes I think I didn’t look at it… I think about how he used to help feed us at home [by selling his carvings]. Sometimes I think he was guiding me. Sometimes I didn’t know what I was going to do [when I began a drawing], the paper was plain.
“I remember the first time I drew one of his birds. It was my third drawing actually. I didn’t sign it. I just took it down to the shop and [the proprietor] recognized it right away. He called it ‘Latchaolossie’s Birds.’ I love helping my family and people, not just my kids or myself, so sometimes I think [my grandfather] is guiding me.”
That guidance has translated into international success as Akesuk recently returned from West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative’s 50th anniversary celebration kickoff in Miami last month, where she was the featured artist for the opening of the Canada Goose flagship store in the city. The event was held in collaboration with the Co-op, which finances some of her work.
“It’s still so unbelievable, even though it already happened… I was amazed. I just laugh about it sometimes because I never thought I would do something like this. I tried not to be nervous [at the show].
“When I [was] starting out, I never, ever knew that I was going to draw. So I say [when I’m working on a drawing] that it’s going to come out [the way] it wants to be, how it wants to turn out. It always comes out as something totally different.”
Originally, Akesuk went to college to become a teacher. She spent her lectures and class time doodling to stay awake. An artist classmate kept encouraging her talent, and eventually took her to buy supplies. In school, Akesuk did not enjoy art class or receive good marks in the subject.
“Never in my life did I think I would be an artist… not only did I come out [of college] as a teacher, I came out as an artist and a teacher,” she said.
Akesuk taught until 2020, when she resigned because she was no longer happy in the profession.
“I couldn’t be where I wasn’t doing my best. It wasn’t fair to the students.”
It was then that she became a full-time artist while working part-time with the court of justice in Kinngait and taking care of her children.
For aspiring Inuit artists, Akesuk’s advice is “don’t overthink what you’re going to work on.” She also emphasized how essential it is for an artist to believe in themselves and their own talent despite setbacks.
“Even if you fail, you can try again. That’s part of life. Figure out how to do it in a different way, as long as you learn from those failures,” she advised.
As for the future and projects on the horizon, Akesuk revealed little.
“We’ll see. I really don’t like talking about it because plans change. So keep checking to see if anything’s happening [with me]. I won’t announce anything until just before [it becomes reality].”
Find out more about Akesuk’s work under the “graphic artists” section at dorsetfinearts.com.