Nurturing a fire, like nurturing relationships, requires care and attention. Just as we tend the flames, Inuuqatigiitsiarniq teaches us to tend to the connections that warm our community and fuel our creative spirit. Photo: Tony Eetak
Photo: Tony Eetak
Values

ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᖅ – Inuuqatigiitsiarniq

By Tony Eetak

Nurturing a fire, like nurturing relationships, requires care, patience, and constant attention to thrive.

Just as we tend the flames, Inuuqatigiitsiarniq teaches us to carefully tend to the connections that warm our community, strengthen our bonds, and fuel the creative spirit that unites us all.

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Building Respectful Relationships and Caring for Each Other

By Tony Eetak

Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IK) forms the heart of Inuit culture, a deep well of knowledge passed through generations. It teaches us how to live in balance with the land, the people, and everything in between. This week, we focus on Inuuqatigiitsiarniq, which translates to respecting others, relationships, and caring for people. It’s not just a value—it’s the foundation of thriving communities and meaningful interactions.

In the arts, Inuuqatigiitsiarniq is woven into every thread of creation. Whether it’s singing, dancing, or carving, these practices are not just solitary expressions; they are communal acts. Through collaboration, respecting individual voices, and honoring diverse perspectives, art becomes a shared experience, enhancing connections among people and cultures. When artists share their work, they are not only offering their creations but also strengthening the bonds that tie the community together.

Meeting at Qaumajuq with the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and the Arviat Film Society to set up our arts incubator project.

For arts organizations, embedding Inuuqatigiitsiarniq into their core values is crucial to fostering a healthy, creative space. It creates an environment where every individual feels valued, heard, and respected—fueling their growth and artistic expression. This respect for one another leads to stronger connections, better teamwork, and more impactful art that resonates deeply within the community. By prioritizing Inuuqatigiitsiarniq, arts organizations not only support their members but also contribute to a broader, lasting impact—creating a foundation for a resilient and thriving arts community.

Filed Under: 2024-5782, SDG 14, SDG 3
Picture of Tony Eetak

Tony Eetak

Tony Eetak is an emerging artist, musician and culture connector from Arviat, Nunavut, now exploring the arts in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A founding member of the Art Borups Corners, Tony has a demonstrated passion for photography, music, composition, and visual arts. With over five years of experience as a dedicated volunteer, collaborator and co-funder of several arts projects, Tony has been involved in various participatory arts events through organizations like the Arviat Film Society, Global Dignity Canada, Inclusion in Northern Research, and Our People, Our Climate. His contributions earned him recognition as a National Role Model by Global Dignity Canada in 2023. His work has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council and the OpenAI Researcher Access Program.

This project was supported by:

Values

Traditional values are the quiet architecture behind our lives—the steady lines that shape how we see, speak, and care for one another. They hold the weight of generations, carried not in grand declarations, but in small, intentional acts: the way we greet our elders, the stories we pass down at the table, the silence we keep in moments of reverence. In a world that moves fast and forgets easily, traditional values ask us to pause, to remember what matters. They are not rules, but rhythms—a kind of cultural heartbeat that reminds us who we are, and who we’re responsible to. Holding onto them isn’t about staying still; it’s about moving forward with depth, connection, and meaning.