Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 09/06) - Three NWT artists will be featured as part of a series on APTN this winter.

Dene painters Archie Beaulieu and John Farcy, and Inuvialuit sculptor Eli Nasogaluak are among the profiles in a 13-part series called "From the Spirit."

The profile of Tuktoyaktuk-born sculptor Eli Nasogaluak will air on APTN Feb. 10. - NNSL file photo

Edmonton-based Earth Magic Media produced the series last year.

"It's an in-depth television profile of some of the great artists we have here in Western Canada," said Raymond Yakeleya, owner of the Dene-run company.

Earth Magic Media produced two other series that profiled the achievements and struggles of aboriginal politicians, youth, athletes and artists. Those series included episodes on Ethel Blondin-Andrews and Stephen Kakfwi.

"After interviewing more than 100 people, we decided that the people we enjoyed working with the most and the people we thought were the most courageous were the artists," Yakeleya said.

"In this country it's tough to be an artist and it's really tough to be a native artist.

"I think it's almost impossible to be a native artist without publicity," he said.

The Dene Development Corporation and the Yellowknife Inn helped sponsor the three weeks of filming in the NWT.

The rest of the artists are from Alberta and B.C.

After the series airs, the company will look at developing a book series based on the profiles in "From the Spirit" for use with Grades 4-6.

APTN show times for NWT artists in "From the Spirit"

Archie Beaulieu - Jan. 18, 1:30 pm, Jan. 20, 12 am; Eli Nasogaluak- Feb. 08, 11 pm, Feb. 10, 12 am, Feb. 13, 10:30 pm; John Farcy- March 1, at 11 pm, March 3, at 12 am, March 6, 10:30 pm