WE'RE PROUD TO BE MEMBERS OF THE KIVALLIQ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

EXPLORING CROSS-SECTORAL CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH ARTS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

@1860 Winnipeg Arts and Niriqatiginnga are proud to be volunteers and members of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce.

Artists Supporting Community: Case Study

Rejuvenating an online presence for the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce

In 2024, the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its 45th anniversary. It was first incorporated in 1979 under the Societies Act as the Keewatin Chamber of Commerce.

The Kivalliq Region is the second largest administrative region of Nunavut. It consists of the portion of the mainland to the west of Hudson Bay together with Southampton Island and Coats Island. The region encompasses approximately 445,110 square kilometers, or about 80% the size of Manitoba which lies directly to the south. It has a population of 10,413 (2016), an increase of 16.3% from 2006.

As a locally and regionally-focused program of our collaborating artists and partners are from Nunavut here in Manitoba. And so we’re proud to be members and active volunteers for the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce.

Thank you to our supporters

Using participatory research, emergent design, lean start-up methodologies and approaches similar to a ‘living lab’ concept, Niriqatiginnga studies northern and Manitoba and Kivalliq supply chain optimization, and pathways to cultural entrepreneurship for the food sector. We’re creating real-world opportunities.

We also acknowledge the incredible support from the Manitoba Sustainable Agricultural Partnership – Indigenous Agriculture and Foods Program, and Manitoba Agriculture. Our project team was able to apply what we learned through our online marketplace development, skills and training to real world work environments. As an outcome of the relationship development and engagement components of “Niriqatiginnga: Towards a Framework for Northern Food Systems Innovation” these activities can help organizations like the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce to transform and rejuvenate the way they engage with the agri-food sector. 

@1860 Winnipeg Arts Collective members Jamie Bell, Tony Eetak and Lucy Eetak also acknowledge the incredible support from the Manitoba Sustainable Agricultural Partnership – Indigenous Agriculture and Foods Program, and Manitoba Agriculture. Our project team was able to apply what we learned through our online marketplace development, skills and training to real world work environments. As an outcome of the relationship development and engagement components of “Niriqatiginnga: Towards a Framework for Northern Food Systems Innovation” these activities can help organizations like the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce to transform and rejuvenate the way they engage with the agri-food sector.
Northern Perspectives conference has returned to Winnipeg in partnership with the Kivalliq Energy Forum. Delegates from across Manitoba and Nunavut are gathering this week at Qaumajuq and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. The highly popular and successful artists market, featuring Inuit art from across the Kivalliq region, will also be returning to the conference as one of its signature events.

Communications, Capacity and Organizational Development

Cultivating Relationship Development and Engagement through Digital Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship

As a volunteer-driven, grassroots arts entrepreneurship collective, @1860 Winnipeg Arts Collective, is proud to collaborate with the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce and its Member partners from the non-profit organization Niriqatiginnga and the Arctic Buying Company in developing a new online marketplace and rejuvenated communications capability. 

Until late January 2024, the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce web sites, social media and  communications had mostly been limited to a one-page web site and stagnant for years. It was a really depressing experience to visit their web site, and they did not even have a news page! There were no programs or services for members either, just an acknowledgement that “at present, KCC’s ability to deliver additional value to its members, and its impact upon the Kivalliq Region and Nunavut are limited by its available resources.”

The Chamber really needed some help to modernize, especially with major events like the 2024 Northern Perspectives Conference and the Kivalliq Energy Forum just around the corner. One of the ideas for Niriqatiginnga’s first phase was to explore setting up an online marketplace as part of a ‘living lab’ for Indigenous food sector entrepreneurship. This was intended to evolve to include a northern artists marketplace for those who would like to sell not just food products, but arts, crafts and maybe even furs from hunters and harvesters too. A great opportunity for component re-use.

The Chamber’s needs were perfectly aligned with what Niriqatiginnga needed to test for its Online Marketplace. It also gave the project a terrific opportunity to combine that prototype work with the training and skills they learned through previous research, cultural and digital arts entrepreneurship pilot projects. This includes their digital arts projects funded by the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse in late 2021 and 2022 and by the Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360 Program in 2022 and 2023. 

And, even better, the new KCC online marketplace will be able to support additional activities like conference registration, corporate sponsorships, exhibition booth rentals and payment processing too. No more insecure Google forms. Check back soon. 

They are almost ready to roll it all out!

A business and cultural showcase of Nunavut with focus on expanding the economic opportunities within Nunavut and partnership opportunities with businesses from Manitoba.

FEBRUARY 26-29 2024 - WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

Join us during Northern Perspectives 2024

Hosted every two years in Winnipeg by the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce, Northern Perspectives 2024 is a business and cultural showcase of Nunavut with focus on expanding the economic opportunities within Nunavut and partnership opportunities with businesses from Manitoba.

Thank you to the sponsors of the 2024 Northern Perspectives Conference and Kivalliq Energy Forum

Thank you for funding and supporting opportunities for youth, artists and entrepreneurs to gain hands-on experience.

The Kivalliq Inuit Association is a Silver sponsor of the 2024 Northern Perspectives Conference and Kivalliq Energy Form

Thank you to the Kivalliq Inuit Association for sponsoring this year’s Artists Marketplace

Just think what the next generation will be able to do.

That’s what the late Mark Kalluak once told us when our adventures In the arts began back in 2010. Since then we, and our stories, have spread out across the world. Today, we’re exploring arts and cultural entrepreneurship from a different perspective — Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

As dedicated members and active supporters of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce, we take immense pride in being part of an organization that bridges the gaps between Manitoba and the vibrant Kivalliq region. For our youth, membership reflects a commitment to fostering economic development, leadership development, and sustainable community collaboration. 

By actively participating in Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce events and initiatives, we contribute to the exchange of ideas, promote local businesses, and strengthen ties with both urban and northern communities. Being a part of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce serves as a testament to our dedication to the overall prosperity and interconnectedness of businesses in Winnipeg and the unique region of Kivalliq.

To learn more about our work, click here

artsincubator.ca

Our team's works have been featured in

Thank you for funding and supporting opportunities for youth, artists and entrepreneurs to gain hands-on experience.

Photo: CBC News reporters Pauline Pemik and Jaison Empson share a moment with emerging Tuktoyaktuk filmmaker Eriel Lugt at Qaumajuq.

MAY 29-JUNE 3 2024 - BODØ, NORWAY

Join us for Arctic Congress 2024 in Bodø, Norway

We’re really excited to see Tony Eetak , Jamie Bell, Kami Norland and Tara Tootoo Fotheringham will be part of a special session convened for the Arctic Congress 2024 in Bodø, Norway. The upcoming session is titled “Niriqatiginnga: Fostering Food Security and Innovation for Northern Supply Chains.”

@1860 Winnipeg Arts and the non-profit organization Niriqatiginnga will be presenting at Arctic Congress 2024. We thank them for their support and for including us!
A business and cultural showcase of Nunavut with focus on expanding the economic opportunities within Nunavut and partnership opportunities with businesses from Manitoba.

FEBRUARY 2026 - WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

Start Planning for Northern Perspectives 2026

Hosted every two years in Winnipeg, is a business and cultural showcase of Nunavut with focus on expanding the economic opportunities within Nunavut and partnership opportunities with businesses from Manitoba. The next Northern Perspectives conference will be held in Winnipeg in 2026.

Thank You to our Partners and Supporters

We’re proud to acknowledge the support of our partners and funders who make what we do each day possible. 

Niriqatiginnga is our newest collaboration. @1860 Team Members Jamie Bell and Tony Eetak have been working with the Headingley-based non-profit food security and cultural entrepreneurship program since 2023.
Thanks to the Arctic Buying Company Winnipeg for always being a champion and supporter of our work since the beginning. @1860 Team Members Jamie Bell, Ethan Caners, Lucy Eetak and Tony Eetak have been collaborating on projects with this Winnipeg-based food shipping and logistics company since 2019.
This project builds on prior research supported by the Minneapolis College of Design Creative Entrepreneurship and Creative Leadership programs. From projects like Arctic Climate Entrepreneurship, Our People Our Climate, Creativity for Entrepreneurship and Niriqatiginnga, MCAD has been a strong supporter of Indigenous arts and creative cultural entrepreneurship programming and we thank them for being great partners and collaborators. MCAD is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Your contribution to MCAD is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
This project builds on prior research supported by the University of Minnesota Duluth and the Labovitz School of Business and Economics. From projects like Creativity for Entrepreneurship, our @1860 Winnipeg Arts incubator and Niriqatiginnga, UMD has been a tremendous supporter of Indigenous arts and creative cultural entrepreneurship training and we thank them for being partners and collaborators in our collective efforts.
This project builds on more than a decade of experiences with Global Dignity Canada. @1860 Winnipeg Arts team members Jamie Bell, Lucy Eetak and Tony Eetak have been volunteering with this non-profit organization since 2012.
Thank you to our supporters at Lembas Works. They have been incredible mentors and advisors to our collective since 2020 and we have learned so much from them.
@1860 Winnipeg Arts and Niriqatiginnga are proud to be volunteers and members of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce.
@1860 Winnipeg is proud to support Niriqatiginnga. We thank the University of the Arctic for supporting our projects and we look forward to seeing them at Arctic Congress 2024.
@1860 Winnipeg Arts has been proud to collaborate with, and learn from Live It Earth. We thank them for supporting our youth, Arctic climate entrepreneurship and arts programming.
@1860 Winnipeg Arts and the non-profit organization Niriqatiginnga will be presenting at Arctic Congress 2024. We thank them for their support and for including us!
@1860 Winnipeg Arts was established through a pilot digital arts program generously funded by the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse. We thank them for their support in making our @1860 Winnipeg Arts collective program possible.
Our program started with the generous support of the ArcticNet, a Network Centre of Excellence of Canada and the Inclusion in Northern Research project.
@1860 Winnipeg Arts was established through a pilot digital arts program generously funded by the Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360 Program. We thank them for their support in making our @1860 Winnipeg Arts collective program possible.
@1860 Winnipeg Arts Collective members Jamie Bell, Tony Eetak and Lucy Eetak also acknowledge the incredible support from the Manitoba Sustainable Agricultural Partnership – Indigenous Agriculture and Foods Program, and Manitoba Agriculture. Our project team was able to apply what we learned through our online marketplace development, skills and training to real world work environments. As an outcome of the relationship development and engagement components of “Niriqatiginnga: Towards a Framework for Northern Food Systems Innovation” these activities can help organizations like the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce to transform and rejuvenate the way they engage with the agri-food sector.
@1860 Winnipeg Arts Collective members Jamie Bell, Tony Eetak and Lucy Eetak also acknowledge the incredible support from the Manitoba Sustainable Agricultural Partnership – Indigenous Agriculture and Foods Program, and Manitoba Agriculture. Our project team was able to apply what we learned through our online marketplace development, skills and training to real world work environments. As an outcome of the relationship development and engagement components of “Niriqatiginnga: Towards a Framework for Northern Food Systems Innovation” these activities can help organizations like the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce to transform and rejuvenate the way they engage with the agri-food sector.
@1860 Winnipeg Arts, and its partner program, Niriqatiginnga, are supported with financial contributions from the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Program and the Government of Canada. We thank them for supporting youth entrepreneurship and for making our skills development and training possible.

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