PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG
Alookie Alikatuktuk is taking her qulliq all the way to Ontario. Her statue, Qulliq for Life, was the Nunavut winner of the BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition.

Alookie Alikatuktuk won the Nunavut prize for her piece Qulliq for Life. - photo courtesy of Alookie Alikatuktuk Alookie Alikatuktuk's statue, Qulliq for Life, made from sterling silver, baleen and tundra rock, will be displayed at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery in Toronto from Nov. 17 to Dec. 17. - photo courtesy of BMO Financial Group

Originally from Pangnirtung, she was a student at Arctic College in Iqaluit studying jewelry and metalwork when she created her piece, inspired by traditional qulliq.

"It's part of my culture, and I enjoy making my culture art," she said.

Out of 248 submissions, 12 regional winners as well as a national winner were selected. Each regional winner won $5,000, while the national winner, this year Nathan Levasseur from the University of Alberta, won $10,000. All of the pieces will be displayed at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery in Toronto from Nov. 17 to Dec. 17.

"The qulliq (oil lamp) means a lot to the Inuit. In the 1900s it was used for drying clothes, making food, and providing heat and light in the qamaq (sod house or tent) and iglu (snow house)," wrote Alikatuktuk in her artist's statement, which will accompany the piece when it's put on display.

Made of sterling silver, baleen and tundra rock, she says the piece reflects her culture.

"The rock comes from the Nunavut land, and forms the base. Traditionally, rocks were used with a kakivak (spear) for hunting fish. I made the kakivak part of the base using baleen from the mouth of a whale, and formed the curved oil holder by hammering, sanding, and polishing a flat sheet of silver," she stated. "This took much patience and reminded me of my patient ancestors."

Alikatuktuk says she's always enjoyed making art, from crayons to her work with metals today. But she says she wasn't expecting to win.

"They called me while I was home for a bit for three weeks and then when they called me to give me the news I was so surprised," she said.

Her celebration had to wait a bit however.

"Everyone in my family was out boating and out camping, so I was kind of celebrating on my own," she said. "I didn't really have anyone to celebrate with. They were happy also, even though they were out camping."

She's intending to join the other winners in November in Toronto, to see her art on display.

As for the prize money, she's not sure yet what she'll do with it.

"First of all I'm going to pay off my college bill," she said.

"And after that I'm not really sure what I'm going to spend it (on)."

Alikatuktuk has now completed her jewelry and metalwork course, but is preparing to go back to school in Iqaluit, this time to study early childhood education.

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