Artists, Researchers & Cultural Entrepreneurs
@1860 Winnipeg Arts began an exciting emergent grassroots collective based in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2020. Buy a small group, we are passionate about exploring different forms of digital arts and entrepreneurship to connect and collaborate with our community. We believe that arts are an essential tool for building strong, resilient communities and empowering our youth with an entrepreneurial mindset for careers in the arts, culture, and heritage sectors. Working together, we hope to contribute to creating supportive and inclusive spaces for artists to showcase their talents, share ideas, and develop our skills. Through our collective efforts, we aim to contribute to the cultural vibrancy of our city and inspire the next generation of Inuit, First Nations and Metis artists and entrepreneurs.
Tony Eetak is an emerging Inuk youth artist and cultural connector based in Winnipeg, Manitoba who enjoys music, visual and performing arts. Tony has been a dedicated volunteer for arts events for more than five years with organizations and projects including the Arviat Film Society, Global Dignity Canada, the ArcticNet-supported Inclusion in Northern Research and the Winnipeg-based hub of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design-led Our People, Our Climate art program. As a founding member of @1860 Winnipeg Arts, Tony’s work has been funded by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Manitoba Arts Council.
Tootoo Fotheringham
Business Student and Cultural Connector
Founding Member, @1860 Winnipeg Arts
Tootoo Fotheringham is a graduate of St. Paul’s High School in Winnipeg Manitoba. He is a founding member of the @1860 Winnipeg Arts program. In 2021 he was one of the first students to take part in the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Creativity for Entrepreneurship program. Tootoo was also a volunteer with the ArcticNet-supported Inclusion in Northern Research Project. He is an avid hockey player and is currently studying at the University of Manitoba.
Ethan Caners
Meteorology and Climate Change Photography
Ethan Caners is a graduate of Stonewall Collegiate High School. He has also studied at the University of Winnipeg Collegiate. A member of @1860 Willing since 2021 he enjoys photography and has travelled across North America to capture climate change. He intends to study meteorology and environmental studies.
Lucy Eetak
Artist, Cultural Advisor and Interpreter
Lucy Eetak is an Inuk artist and crafter hailing from the vibrant community of Arviat, Nunavut. Alongside her passion for creating hats and traditional crafts, she has been an active community volunteer for many years, always looking for ways to support cultural entrepreneurship and local initiatives. Lucy has lent her skills and expertise to a variety of programs, and research efforts including the Arviat Film Society and the ArcticNet-supported Inclusion in Northern Research Project. In 2021 she took part in the University of Minnesota Duluth-supported Creativity for Entrepreneurship project and in 2022, she completed the Northern College Work Readiness Program, further expanding her knowledge and skills. Through her art and community work, Lucy is a shining example of the creativity, dedication, and resilience that are hallmarks of Inuit culture.
Advisor, Artist and Social Entrepreneurship
Owner, Chocolatier Constance Popp
Constance Menzies was born in Montreal, lived in Churchill and has made Winnipeg home for many years. Constance has earned a Masters Degree at the University of Manitoba in Natural Resources Management and worked for the City of Winnipeg (riparian management & waste management) and for industry as an environmental manager. Serving many boards and committees over the years including 6 years on the Premiers Advisory Council (Manitoba) Constance has worked on and with many projects in the arts, environment & social sectors. Currently (and for several years), Constance owns a small successful business in St. Boniface making and selling artisan chocolate. Constance has also written & directed plays and organized many artistic and environmental events. With a multidisciplinary background Constance brings forth experience, ideas and practical/logistical energy for arts, social and environmental entrepreneurship. Constance is thrilled to work on the variety & range of arts incubator projects.
Dorothy Atuat Tootoo, CD, ON
Inuit Elder and Cultural Entrepreneurship Advisor
Dorothy Atuat Tootoo, CD, ON, is a highly respected Elder known for her extensive experience and dedication to education in Nunavut and beyond. With twelve years of service as a commanding officer for the 3019 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) in Rankin Inlet and years as a student counsellor for Nunavut Arctic College, she has been a tireless advocate for students, helping them achieve their educational goals and persist in their pursuit of knowledge. As an Elder Advisor, she has initiated mentoring programs for various initiatives, including the @1860 Winnipeg Arts Incubator pilot, the University of Minnesota Duluth-supported Creativity for Entrepreneurship initiative, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design-led Our People Our Climate project, and the ArcticNet-supported Inclusion in Northern Research Initiative. She is a recipient of the prestigious Polar Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2022 she received the Order of Nunavut for her contributions to Inuit culture and community.
Professor and Chair, Creative Entrepreneurship
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Dr. Olaf Kuhlke is Professor and Chair of Creative Entrepreneurship at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He previously taught geography and philosophy at the University of Minnesota Duluth and is a founder of the B.A. Program in Cultural Entrepreneurship. His research has focused on topics such as cultural festivals, national identity in popular music, and the role of religion in public spaces. He is currently leading a project called “Our People, Our Climate” that involves developing a climate change visualization curriculum for youth in Arctic, mid-latitude, and tropical environments.
Jamie Bell is a skilled media and interdisciplinary arts professional with extensive experience in journalism, public affairs and media. A long-time arts administrator, Jamie’s career spans almost three decades, during which he has developed an expertise in media and communications, primarily focused on community development through arts and research initiatives. He has served as the Public Affairs Officer for the Nunavut Research Institute from 2008-2016, in addition to working in communications and public affairs for various government departments such as the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Economic Development and Transportation, the Department of National Defence among others. Since 2017, Jamie has been active supporting community outreach and arts-based education efforts inWinnipeg, Manitoba. He has developed strong working relationships with Inuit, First Nations, and Metis communities. He is a former member of the City’s of Windsor’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee to Council. In 2022, Jamie was a founding member and lead for the Canada Council for the Arts-funded @1860 Winnipeg Arts Program. He is an active member of the Global Dignity Canada national steering committee and an annual organizer of events for National Kindness Week.
Associate Professor, Operations and Supply Chain Management
Inaugural Kjell R. Knudsen Faculty Fellow for Innovation
University of Minnesota Duluth
Dr. Wenqing Zhang, PhD is Associate Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management at Labovitz School of Business and Economics, University of Minnesota Duluth. He received his PhD in Management Science/Operations Management from McGill University in 2012. Dr. Zhang’s research interests lie in contemporary operations and supply chain issues, with a particular focus on strategies to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in supply chains. His research endeavors also encompass the advancement of equitable development for indigenous communities, as he seeks to enhance our understanding of how individuals and organizations interpret social responsibility and sustainability when making operational or supply chain decisions for these communities.
Tara Tootoo Fotheringham is CEO of the Arctic Buying Company – Kivalliq in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She has been an established entrepreneur since 2000 and is celebrated for providing services promoting accessible services based on community needs and traditions. She is an advocate for Indigenous issues and “will always speak up for the Northern communities to ensure that they have everything they need.” Tootoo Fotheringham is also a member of the Amundsen Science Board of Directors, Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce, and sits on the Kivalliq Legal Services Board and the non-profit organization Amautiit.
Through our collective efforts, we aim to harness the power of the arts to inspire and uplift our community, while also pushing the boundaries of what is possible with digital media when building from the ground up. We believe that the arts can be a transformative force for positive change, and we are excited to explore how we can use our collective skills and expertise to make real impacts in our community.