Jennifer Obleman
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, January 2, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - What would you do if you received a $28,000 cheque in the mail? Take some time off work and go on vacation?

That's exactly what owners and managers of Yk art galleries are hoping aboriginal artists won't be doing as residential school payments trickle into the North.

Michelle McDuff, manager of Northern Images, said she hopes the supply of Northern art and handcrafts won't slow down this winter. According to the gallery's buyer, so far carvers and artists have not indicated they will be taking a break from their work when they receive residential school cheques. - Jennifer Obleman/NNSL photo

"Especially we find handcrafts are getting harder and harder to come by - fewer people are doing it. So if there's even fewer people, that's going to be a concern," said Michelle McDuff, manager of Northern Images.

"We would hope to see people get back at it soon."

Northern Images, which sources its art through the co-op system, is planning to bring in extra inventory this winter because of the Arctic Winter Games in March.

R.J. Ramrattan, branch manager for the Northern carving co-op Canadian Arctic Producers, doesn't anticipate that will be a problem.

"I have a lot of artists that are very loyal," he said.

"They will work towards that."

He added he doesn't expect any slowdown in production due to residential school payments.

"It would be a concern if it happened. Then again, they all deserve a break."

Ramrattan has been in the business 18 years. He buys artwork in 20 communities in Nunavut, dealing with about two to three master carvers in each community, who each carve, on average, three to four pieces a month, depending on the time of year and other circumstances.

In his experience, the time before Christmas is very busy, and after that is typically a slow period.

"They work when they need money," he said.

It is not known how many Northern artists are eligible for residential school money, but according to the Government of Canada, more than 6,100 students who attended residential schools in the three Northern territories, including 14 schools in the NWT and 13 in Nunavut, are expected to receive payments.

Every eligible former student who applies will receive a $10,000 common experience payment plus $3,000 for each additional year of attendance at residential school. The average payment is estimated to be $28,000.

More than $171 million is expected to be paid out to former students in the three Northern territories.

But Yk gallery owners say they don't think receiving residential school money will keep artists from continuing to work.

"The artists we are dealing with certainly haven't indicated they're taking time off," said Lisa Seagrave, owner of the Gallery of the Midnight Sun.

"I'm not aware of how many are eligible for payouts, but it hasn't been a concern. They don't just do it for the money. They love art. I don't know that any of them would stop because they get some cash."

Cynthia Cardinal James, general manager of Arrowmakers, which carries fine art and traditional art from at least 20 Dene, Metis, Inuvialuit, and Northern artists, concurred.

"There hasn't been any indication from our artists," she said.

"I think we're fine."