Occupying a vast area in Canada's northern Arctic, the federal territory known as Nunavut has a small population of just over 32,000 people. Only 14 nations have a larger land mass than Nunavut.
Nunavut is home to the Inuit, a distinguished group of Canadian Aboriginal people, many of whom are highly skilled in creating unique artwork. For years, Inuit artists have developed carvings, sculptures, drawings and paintings – visual art masterpieces that capture Inuit culture and way of life for the outside world.
One of Nunavut's larger communities, Cape Dorset on Baffin Island, has earned the nickname "Capital of Inuit Art." Award-winning artists from Cape Dorset include master carver Ohito Ashoona, a native traditionalist who actively hunts for caribou and fishes for seals, walruses and whales. Ashoona's love for his Inuit culture, Arctic environment and wildlife is reflected in soapstone carvings such as the swimming bear, diving whale and howling wolves.
Inuit art is becoming popular internationally, although some foreigners mistakenly refer to Inuit creations as Eskimo art. The following analysis focuses on exports of original sculptures including soapstone carvings from Nunavut cities including Iqaluit to the rest of the world.
Exported Inuit Art Sculptures For Sale
During 2008, Nunavut exported C$275,882 worth of Inuit carvings. That represents only 1.2% of total Nunavut exports, more than 70% of which were shipments of iron ore. Nunavut sculpture exports increased by over 9 times from year 2000, and have almost doubled over the past 5 years.
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