Maxine Anguk on Qaumajuq’s Digital Vault Platform

Maxine Anguk, WAG Visible Vault Digital Platform Project Manager

Maxine Anguk, Visible Vault Digital Platform Project Manager joined the WAG in June 2020 to prepare the new digital extension of Qaumajuq, the Inuit art centre’s Visible Vault. As an Inuk who grew up in Whale Cove in Nunavut, before relocating to Winnipeg, Maxine is well connected to many people and organizations across the North, and she is now us bringing us all closer together to share stories around Inuit art. To view a sneak peak of the Visible Vault, visit us on YouTube!

“Since we invited Inuit filmmakers and photographers to submit content this summer, I have been busy connecting with Inuit all across Inuit Nunagat as well as Manitoba,” says Maxine. “I’m working virtually with Inuit film makers, photographers and local Inuit Elders and youth for the world to see the Vault in-person or digitally once Qaumajuq opens. I’ve helped with Inuktitut translations as well as giving my input on Inuit culture and how important language is creating meaningful relationships working with the Inuit community.”

What are you most excited about with regards to this digital platform?

I’m most excited for Qaumajuq to be open for the community, for people to learn about Inuit culture, history, and the artists who’s art will be featured in the space. It will be an amazing learning experience. It’s time for Inuit to be included in conversations that happen around Indigenous communities.

What do you feel when you read, hear, and speak the new Indigenous names of Qaumajuq, Biindigin Biwaasaeyaah, and the spaces within?

It makes my heart so happy! This is one step towards reconciliation, I’m excited that when I bring my kids to WAG-Qaumajuq, I can explain to them that we’re using Inuktitut and other Indigenous languages to name these spaces and tell them how important language is. I’m also excited for all the Elders and youth who will walk through these spaces!

What do you hope visitors will experience and take away from Qaumajuq?

I really hope that they come out learning that Inuit and Indigenous Peoples have such a long history of survival and that no matter how much our ancestors were put through, in the end, we are still here. Indigenous Peoples are so resilient and have been fighting for basic human rights since colonization began. I hope this space opens minds and helps to teach that we are all one.

I grew up in a small town, and living away from home, family, land, culture, and language gets tough. To all my fellow Inuit who live away from their communities, know that there are many of us here. Community is so important, culture is so important. I hope that after dealing with this unforeseen year of COVID-19, and once Qaumajuq is open, that one day we can all connect and get together at Qaumajuq to talk about, learn, and create art. We can tell stories about our culture and speak our language in these beautiful open rooms. I can’t wait to see what 2021 has to offer. The grand opening of Qaumajuq will be amazing! We are working for everyone to have access to the livestream! You won’t want to miss what we have in store for you.

Made possible by the Canada Council for the Arts

Qujjannamiik

Inuk Elder Martha Peet lights a qulliq, a traditional Inuit lamp near Qaumajuq’s Visible Vault. Photo: MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS