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The Arts Incubator

Winnipeg, Manitoba

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  • Ancestral Cuts
  • Come Eat With Me 2025

Ancestral Cuts

Beneath the generous sun, the ulu sings. Each deliberate slice of caribou, a whispered conversation with ancestors, transforms sustenance into art. It's a profound dance of hand and earth, weaving resilience into the very fabric of northern life.
Eva Suluk May 28, 2025
Under the warm spring sun, the ulu becomes an extension of the hand, gracefully preparing caribou meat for drying. This isn't just work; it's a living tradition, connecting us to the land and the wisdom of generations past.

Under the warm spring sun, the ulu becomes an extension of the hand, gracefully preparing caribou meat for drying. This isn't just work; it's a living tradition, connecting us to the land and the wisdom of generations past.

Honoring Tradition Through the Art of Drying Meat

The spring sun, a warm and generous blessing, painted golden light across my back. In my hand, the familiar curve of the ulu felt like an extension of my own history, a tool whispered through generations. This work, this rhythmic push and pull of blade against caribou meat, is deeply grounding—a quiet conversation with those who came before me. Each slice, thin and deliberate, isn’t merely cutting; it’s a coaxing, preparing each piece for its transformative journey to dry in the sun and wind.

I thought of the long winter, how it stretched like an endless canvas of white. But moments like this, with the scent of fresh meat and the promise of sustenance, felt like the true beginning of the year’s vibrant palette. My hands moved with purpose, but my mind was clear, filled with the profound satisfaction of contributing. I knew this meat would feed my family, sustaining us just as it has sustained our people for countless springs. It’s hard work, yes, but it is also a profound connection—an intricate dance with the land, an unbroken thread of tradition, and an embrace of the endless, beautiful cycle of life.

About the Author

Eva Suluk

Eva Suluk

Administrator

A founding member of our arts collective, Eva Suluk is a cultural connector specializing in traditional knowledge, drumming and oral history storytelling. Her work has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. An Inuit artist residing in Arviat, Nunavut, she is renowned for her expertise in preparing dried caribou meat. She has been featured in the IsumaTV series "Inuit Makers," specifically in the segment titled "Drying Caribou," which showcases her traditional skills and knowledge in meat preservation.

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MANITOBA ARTS PROGRAMS

This platform, our Winnipeg, Manitoba hub and programs have been made possible with support from the Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360 Program. We gratefully acknowledge their funding and support in making the work we do possible.

Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360 Program

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Arts Incubator was seeded and piloted with strategic arts innovation funding from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse. We thank them for their investment, supporting northern arts capacity building and bringing the arts to life.

Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse Logo

NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO ARTS PROGRAMS

This platform, our Northwestern Ontario hub and programs have been made possible with support from the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects Program. We gratefully acknowledge their funding and support in making the work we do possible.

Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects Program
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