The Quilt of Belonging

A visitor described the 120-foot long tapestry that filled the hall at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex as “Northern Lights”, one that spoke of our desire to honor every individual’s unique place in the fabric of Canadian society.

Visual artist Esther Bryan started the community art project in 1998; volunteer artists were invited to create the 263 squares to tell a cultural and personal history in each block– whether of an Inuit or First Nations group, or other nations that made up part of Canada’s social fabric. Esther believes we share common threads, “With textile and leather, we can tie anything together,” especially the unique cultural beauty that enhances our national identity.

The Aklavik Sing along Group opened the ceremonies, playing a rousing melody that harmonized with drum beats of the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers. It was a gorgeous transition between their performances.

The opening night also included speeches by Jamie Robertson from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. The ITK and NAAF’s visit of the north coincided with the arrival of the Quilt of Belonging.

She said, “It is a pleasure to see the power of the culture of the Inuvialuit, and the strength of your people, your dance, your drums and your singing. It’s really an education and that’s what we are doing here.”

It was no humdrum quilt, materials used ranged from beaded caribou hides to Scottish tartans, from gold embroidered silk to the gossamer wings of butterflies, from century old homespun linens to African mud cloth. The blocks at the bottom of the quilt represent how the aboriginal nations of Canada are the foundation of our nation.

Appreciation of the quilt was not limited to women. Roy Wilson said, “I didn’t realize until I got here that these represent our country. I thought it represented the world! This is pretty neat. I like the Iraqi one, with the gold. I can see hard work went in.”

It took six years to complete all the nation blocks and then

This quilt has achieved a goal of the invitation project: To create together, a work of art that shows a path from separate to whole, to belonging assemble them. Ever since April 2005, the quilt has begun its four year tour around Canada, and has traveled through Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Foundland, Labrador and Nunavut. After its next stop in Yellowknife, it will be exhibited in Western Canada.

Agnes Kuptana crafted the Inuvialuit block, and looked happy and proud to be part of the quilt. She said, “When Nellie gave me a call 7 years ago, I realized it was important. I thought about what represents the Inuvialuit and decided it would be sealskin and the Alaskan High Kick.” She worked with white and grey sealskin, trimmed to define details, and stitched with sinew.