INUVIK - Northern Images in Inuvik is just one outlet of Arctic Co-operatives Limited, which buys and sells a vast collection of artwork in 32 member communities across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, helping to keep traditional crafts alive.

That's something that many people aren't aware of, said Adrian Price, Arctic Co-operatives Limited division manager of marketing. He's hoping more people will become enlightened about what the co-operative is all about.

Northern Images on Mackenzie Road is part of Arctic Co-operatives Limited, which promotes Inuit and Dene artwork around the world. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

"Art is a cornerstone of what we're all about," he said. "When people find out that that's what we're all about, they're much more appreciative of who we are and what we represent. It's not something that's being done for financial reasons. It's existing to help support our members of the local communities."

Though Price works out of the co-operatives' main office in Winnipeg, he said he is constantly in touch with member communities, which have their own retail stores, to find the latest and greatest crafts, prints and carvings. Some of the items are chosen to be showcased in the larger stores located in Inuvik, Yellowknife and Churchill, Man.

As a co-operative, the money that's generated from sales goes back to membership communities in one form or another, whether it's through a dividend check or money towards fixing community infrastructure.

The co-operative also has a division called Canadian Arctic Producers which showcases membership artwork around the world.

"When we make a sale, it's helping artists get an outlet for their work," he said. "It helps to support the more prolific artists that do a lot of art carvings for a living. It's a very homegrown type of business in Inuvik."

Inuvik's Northern Images store has a new store manager, Stella Patera. She's currently on vacation but Price said the Italian-born art lover carries with her a lot of experience in the field as well a lot of passion for Inuit art and the Arctic co-operatives.

"It's perpetuating wonderful art and perpetuating traditions that are captured within that art," he said. "It's something that really gets in your blood, when you've been attached to the co-op system for a long time.

"It's not all about corporate profit; it's about thousands of people getting together to create a sustainable business."