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KIVALLIQ
Theresie Tungilik was smiling over the growing potential of the Kivalliq Doll Collection when she returned to Rankin Inlet from Cambridge, United Kingdom, this past month.

Tungilik was part of a six-person delegation representing Nunavut, the NWT and the Yukon to travel to England.

Also making the trip were doll makers Lillian Wright of Inuvik, Delores Anderson of Dawson City, and Lizzie Angootealuk of Coral Harbour, as well as Jennifer Bowen, arts curator at the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse, and Rowena House, executive director of the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association (NACA).

Angootealuk's participation was paid for by NACA, which applied for funding through the Department of Economic Development and Transportation (ED&T).

The group was the main attraction for a doll exhibition held at the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge.

The road to Cambridge actually began when the three territories combined for a doll display in Richmond, B.C., during the 2010 Olympics.

From there, the dolls moved to Canada's Northern House in Vancouver, and then onto the Yukon Arts Centre before heading across the Atlantic

The exhibit opened at the institute on May 18 and will remain there until Aug. 20.

Tungilik, who is the Kivalliq region's advisor for arts and traditional economy for ED&T, said the group members gave lectures about the dolls at the institute.

She said they lectured to faculty members, as well as people of all ages from the general public.

"We were well received and the dolls being there made it a lot easier to talk about the Inuit and First Nations ways of life," said Tungilik.

"Many of the people there had more interest in the Inuit way of life simply because they study the North a lot.

"The dolls fit in really well with some of the explorers they have on display, as well as their history and large gatherings of Northern articles.

"I think, because of all their Northern studies, they're able to relate well to what the explorers endured during their search for the Northwest Passage and the North Pole."

Tungilik said many of those she spoke with at the institute were quite curious about the North, in general, and interested in how Inuit prepare skins and do other tasks.

She said because of their studies on the North, many of the people she spoke to were highly educated about the region.

"Even though they were well-informed, they still had plenty of questions and were quite grateful to us for being able to provide the answers.

"Almost all of them were quite understanding of the Inuit way of life and the challenges we still find ourselves facing today.

"A number of parents and their children who attended our demonstrations were very interested in fur, and they also learned how to make dolls and do beadwork.

"So they were very interested in our culture, as well as trying to make dolls themselves."

Tungilik said one person did become somewhat confrontational about Inuit hunting seals during the visit.

She said it was an isolated incident and the group members handled the situation well.

"Our Nunavut doll maker (Angootealuk) was the only one to get orders for her dolls on the way back.

"She received doll orders in Cambridge, as well as in Ottawa while on her way home."

Tungilik said the trip to England was well worth the time and effort.

She said the doll exhibit promotes better understanding of Inuit culture and holds the promise of future economic gains.

"They were so hungry for more information on the Inuit way of life, and our visit may be just the beginning.

"I'm hoping their curiosity will lead to more Northerners being asked to lecture at their university."

Tungilik said there's more travel and exhibitions in store for the Inuit dolls.

She said they will be on display at Dawson City from June to September 2012.

"Once the display is finished in Dawson City, the dolls will be off to the Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife, from November to December 2012.

"This has been a long process for the Kivalliq dolls and, hopefully, there's plenty to come for them yet."

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