Unique Display of Culture Throughout the Central Labrador YMCA – Generously funded in part by Iskueteu, A Limited Partnership
Cultural Representation at the Wellness Centre Generously funded in part by Iskueteu, A Limited Partnership (The Cahill Group, Switch Electric Inc., Max Penashue, Bart Jack Jr.) Polar Bear Nanuk to Inuit, and Uapishku to Innu This polar bear was harvested by Perry Voisey of Makkovik, Nunatsiavut, Labrador near a place called Stripes on February 11, […]
- May 20, 2022
Cultural Representation at the Wellness Centre
Generously funded in part by Iskueteu, A Limited Partnership (The Cahill Group, Switch Electric Inc., Max Penashue, Bart Jack Jr.)
Polar Bear
Nanuk to Inuit, and Uapishku to Innu
This polar bear was harvested by Perry Voisey of Makkovik, Nunatsiavut, Labrador near a place called Stripes on February 11, 2018. A mature male bear, he measures 8.5 feet or 2.6 metres tall. The taxidermy was done by Rex Jennings of Newfoundland Taxidermy Services Ltd. This special piece for the YMCA was generously donated by Bev Elliot and Barry Callahan of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Hand Crafted Canoe and Painting
The Wisp
This beautiful canoe was created by master canoe builder Joe Goudie of Happy Valley- Goose Bay, Labrador. The canoe represents a unique partnership between Joe and renowned artist Mary Ann Penashue of Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation, Labrador. Joe hand-crafted the 15-foot canoe from eastern white cedar and canvas. Mary Ann hand-painted symbols that are important to the Innu culture, including an eagle feather, an eagle’s eye, a doe caribou with her pricket, and a Canada goose with her goslings.
The canoe is a solo model, one seat canoe, called ‘The Wisp’. The model was designed by Jerry Stelmok of Island Falls Canoe in Atkinson, Maine, where Joe trained to build canoes in 1997. Joe Goudie is of Inuit and Innu ancestry and born in 1939 in the small community of Mud Lake. Mary Ann Penashue is an Innu artist born in 1964 on Birch Island.
Komatik
This traditional komatik used for dog team travel measures 8ft by 2.66ft, and was crafted by Joe Goudie. The komatik itself is made from white spruce and the bottom shoeing is made from cedar. The style includes traditional lashings and has been stained in a natural colour. Joe Goudie is of Inuit and Innu ancestry and born in 1939 in the small community of Mud Lake. Joe learned how to first make this style of komatik from his Uncle John Blake exemplifying how these skills are passed down through the generations.
Netting
This traditional cod trap leader netting was constructed, donated, and installed by Richard ‘Dick’ Michelin of North West River, Labrador.
Richard spent many years fishing in Smokey, Cartwright, Black Tickle, and Makkovik on a 34-foot vessel named the MV Darlene Holly, until he had to stop fishing after the 1992 cod fish moratorium. He continues to live closely off the land, and carry on many traditions, including net mending.
Richard is of Inuit ancestry and was born in 1947 in North West River.
Carving
Traditional Inuit carving measuring 63 centimeters long, displaying an Inuk harvesting seal from a qajaq (kayak), sculpted by John Neville.
The face is made from talc stone, the paddle is ivory, the seal and Inuk are soap stone, the qajaq is anorthosite, and the ropes are sinew.
The sculptor John Neville and his family are from Black Tickle, in NunatuKavut territory. John has been carving most of his life with inspiration from the rugged south coast of Labrador.
Seal Skin Wall Hanging
A wall hanging made from harp and ringed seal skin, stretched with sinew on a birch frame, measuring 3 feet by 5 feet.
This piece was created by Inez Shiwak from Rigolet, Nunatsiavut. Inez is an Inuk artist and seamstress, who learned to sew from her mother.
Inez has been identified as one of Canada’s top 10 Inuit artists to watch, and has done commissioned pieces for diverse clients and galleries, including the Torngat Mountains National Park Base Camp (2016), the Residential School apology in Labrador (2017) entitled The Healing, and replicas of the The Healing for The Rooms (2020) and for the Lieutenant Governor and Government House (2022).
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