@1860 Winnipeg Arts founding member Tony Eetak was named a National Role Model by Global Dignity Canada on October 18, 2023. The 17-year-old Winnipeg-based artist has been volunteering with the national non-profit organization for almost a decade. Global Dignity Canada Board Chair Giovanna Mingarelli made the announcement during this year’s annual national event.
Tony joins National Role Model Jaden Lake as this year’s newest role models, alongside Global Dignity Canada Champion Odeshkun Thusky.
“We’re incredibly proud of Tony,” said @1860 Winnipeg founding member Jamie Bell. “He’s given a lot of time, energy and commitment to community projects over the past several years and has really grown as an artist.”
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 and Our People, Our Climate. 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.
This winter, he will be working with two new creative entrepreneurship and arts projects: Niriqatiginnga and Winter City Stories.
“I’m grateful for being named a national role model,” said Eetak. “I’ve learned a lot from everyone involved in Global Dignity Canada, and am proud of the work we do together.”
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 with support from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design this unique program has grown beyond its original scope to support hybrid programming engaging urban, rural and northern participation as well as internationally.
Established in 2005 by HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Operation HOPE Founder John Hope Bryant, and respected Finnish professor Pekka Himanen, Global Dignity is an independent, non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to empowering young people with dignity. It seeks to inspire respect, self-esteem, and tolerance for diversity while promoting the notion that every human being possesses the universal right to lead a dignified life. For more information, please visit their website at www.globaldignity.ca.
