Katherinengujunga, Ottawamiutaujunga. My name is Katherine Takpannie, and I currently live in Ottawa. My anaana is originally from Apex Hill, however I was born in Montreal, QC. I am a self-taught photographer who wants to reveal the complexities and nuances of my urban Inuit life. My artistic visual language expands out from portraiture to include lush landscapes, and political activism. Through fine art photography, I aim to help raise awareness to important issues, and bring forth important conversations through my work.
As a self taught photographer, I honour my Inuit worldview through my lens. Photography is my chosen medium to reclaim my identity and explore my experiences as an urban Inuk. As a young Inuk, I grew up with intergenerational trauma, in poverty, around addictions, mental health crises and in and out of foster care. I left home at 13 and I never graduated high school. However, I am a very proud alumni of the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program. My life turned around completely after reclaiming my culture, and I graduated with a 3.95 GPA. The program focuses on the Nunavut Agreement and its implementation, Political Science, Research, Inuit-Government Relations, Contemporary Issues, Inuit history, and Inuktitut. Not only did I learn so much, I was able to be a cultural ambassador: sharing my Inuit culture from the Governor General’s Winter Celebration to the Oslo Opera House in Norway I have honoured and celebrated Inuit excellence. Inuuqatigiitsiarni in Inuktut means “respecting others, relationships and caring for people”. I want to reflect that Inuit societal value. I want to achieve a worthwhile career creating art that’s also purposeful, encaptivating and shares who I am. Photography has been my way to contribute meaningful art to our Canadian society.
In 2020, I was the recipient of the National Gallery of Canada’s ‘New Generation Photography Award,’ and since then my artworks have been displayed both nationally and internationally, and are published in several magazines. I have exhibited at the National Gallery of Canada, Biennale d’art contemporain autochtone (BACA), City of Ottawa Art Collection, Art Gallery of Guelph, PAMA Peel Art Gallery + Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and Olga Korper Gallery. My photographs have been featured in Inuit Art Quarterly, Canadian Geographic, Globe and Mail, Canadian Wildlife Magazine, The Body Shop and Elle. Upcoming exhibitions include, Ādisōke, the Ottawa Public Library – Library and Archives Canada joint facility.
