Tony Eetak
Interdisciplinary Artist and Cultural ConnectorFounding Member, Winnipeg Arts Collective 2020 -
Founding Member, Winnipeg Arts Collective 2020 -
Tony Eetak is an emerging youth artist and culture connector originally from Arviat, Nunavut and a founding member of the @1860 Winnipeg Arts collective.
With a growing interest in photography, music and visual arts, Tony has been a dedicated volunteer for participatory arts events in his community, working for more than five years with organizations and projects including the Arviat Film Society, Global Dignity Canada, Inclusion in Northern Research, Our People, Our Climate and Niriqatiginnga.
In 2021 he completed his first Creativity for Entrepreneurship online college course through University of Minnesota Duluth Continuing Education and with support from the UMD Cultural Entrepreneurship program. In June 2022 Tony presented some of his creative photography and experiences for the Auviqsaqtut Inuit Studies Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba with the Our People, Our Climate project and support from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. In 2023, Tony was a founding member of Niriqatiginnga, a Winnipeg-based non-profit program that explores arts-based and participatory approaches to addressing food security. Also, in 2023 Tony was named a National Role Model by the non-profit organization Global Dignity Canada.
Our arts incubator project started as a fun, grassroots project during the pandemic. After our Digital Greenhouse pilot project ended, we continued building on it. In December 2023, we were able to focus on relationship development and engagement activities with funding from the Government of Manitoba and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
In April 2024 we used what we learned, and cloned a lot of our work to build a new web site for the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce. Take a look at it. It’s a great new look for the Kivalliq Chamber!
Just as partnerships at the domestic level are critical to ensuring the safety and security of Canada’s Arctic, it is equally important to work with other Arctic states and international partners in the broader region.
This proposed project will develop and pilot a program to better understand implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Action Plan for implementation within Northern communities.
@1860 Winnipeg Arts and Entrepreneurship
Funded by the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse and the Manitoba Arts Council
Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, @1860 Winnipeg is an evolving, grassroots digital arts and cultural entrepreneurship collaborative supporting training and professional development for emerging, urban and newly urban Indigenous youth artists and cultural connectors. Launched in November 2021 with funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and Manitoba Arts Council, this unique program has grown beyond its original scope to support hybrid programming engaging urban, rural and northern participation as well as internationally.
Hosted every two years in Winnipeg, is a business, arts and cultural showcase of Nunavut with focus on expanding the economic opportunities within Nunavut and partnership opportunities with businesses from Manitoba. Learn more and find out how to register at: https://northperspectives.com
In winter 2024, members of our funky @1860 Winnipeg Arts collective are working with Niriqatiginnga and the Arctic Buying Company to rejuvenate the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce web site. With many gaps for northern artists and culture sector, and urban ones too, we thought this is an important project worth supporting.
Previous Projects and Experiences
2022-2023: Climate Storytelling and Photojournalism
Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2019 – 2023
Our People, Our Climate is a ground-breaking documentary film initiative, aiming to develop the storytelling skills of Indigenous youth and young adults. First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities across Canada’s Arctic are essential to current climate change discussions, and this project brings together a range of young people in these communities to tell important stories through a unique and distinct cultural lens.
Using Arts in support of Participatory and Inclusive Learning Environments
Funded by the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse, 2021-2022
This project brought together northern and southern youth, community builders, arts-based researchers, cultural creators and educators to share cultural and environmental observations, challenges and insights-based solutions for hands-on digital arts and technologies to tackle cultural and climate change through regenerative artistic creation, cultural entrepreneurship training and participatory video training.
Auviqsaqtut 2022 Inuit Studies Conference and Knowledge Sharing Workshops
We presented during our knowledge sharing workshops that were held at the same time as the Inuit Studies Conference. We went to Qaumajuq, the University of Winnipeg, St. Boniface and St. James and connected with a lot of artists and researchers. We learned a lot this summer.
University of Minnesota Duluth, 2021
Creativity for Entrepreneurship was a Continuing Education course developed by the University of Minnesota Duluth Cultural Entrepreneurship program during the pandemic.
We learned about having a creative and entrepreneurial mindset and I learned a lot about photography.
Our People Our Climate: Winnipeg
Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2021-2022Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360, 2022-2023
Our Climate was a ground-breaking documentary film and photojournalism initiative, aiming to develop the storytelling skills of Indigenous youth and young adults. Our People Our Climate explored the visualization of climate change in Arctic, mid-latitude as well as tropical locations.
Thank you to our partners, funders and supporters
