Abstracts
Abstract
Manifold representations of the dwelling are expressed in the work of artist, poet, writer, editor, and activist Alootook Ipellie in the bi-monthly publication Inuit Today in the 1970s and 1980s, as a cross-section through key moments in Inuit Nunangat history. This essay thus examines Ipellie’s representations of space—not as an attempt to theorize Inuit space but rather to offer reflections on how these representations challenged ways of knowing and interpreting Arctic communities. We first address the Arctic representation in Ipellie’s work, which emphasizes the existing richness of the land according to Inuit perspectives as opposed to Qallunaat (non-Inuit) interpretations. His drawings also offer political comments on land disputes and the exploitation of territory. We then explore the representation of buildings, as Ipellie witnessed the transition from traditional to government housing. Ipellie’s humour-based approach constituted a strong social and political critique of housing issues and settler-colonial building practices. This artist acknowledged Inuit ingenuity when speaking of traditional housing, thus advocating for Inuit knowledge, invention, and built heritage. Lastly, we discuss the representation of multiple voices in the struggles over space, including Inuit communities and non-human agents, such as animals and land. Dwelling on the notion of “lines” and “the in-between”, we consider the thickness of Ipellie’s drawn lines and attend to the multiple entanglements between the artist’s political cartoons and the many lines of settler-colonialism, such as boundaries, frontiers, roads, pipelines, spatial construction, buildings, and planning.
Keywords:
- Activism,
- Alootook Ipellie,
- Arctic,
- Land,
- Lines,
- Representation,
- Settler-Colonialism
Résumé
Cet essai examine les représentations de l’habitation dans l’oeuvre de l’artiste, poète, écrivain, éditeur et activiste Alootook Ipellie. Analysant tout particulièrement son travail publié entre les années 1970-80 dans le magazine bimensuel Inuit Today, cet essai accorde une attention particulière à la spatialité dans le travail d’Alootook Ipellie. Cet essai n’est pas une tentative de théoriser l’espace inuit mais plutôt une série de réflexions sur la manière dont les illustrations d’Ipellie défient les façons de connaître et interpréter l’Inuit Nunangat. L’essai aborde d’abord le portrait de l’Arctique dans l’oeuvre d’Ipellie qui exprime la richesse existante du territoire plutôt que l’espace en tant que potentiel conteneur d’infrastructures coloniales. Les dessins examinés explorent les conflits territoriaux et l’exploitation de l’environnement. Deuxièmement, la représentation des bâtiments y est étudiée dans la mesure où Ipellie a assisté à la transition du mode de vie nomade à l’intervention de l’état sur l’habitat et les questions sociales. Son approche humoristique constitue une forte critique sociale et politique sur les problèmes de logement et les pratiques de construction. Ipellie célèbre la sagesse de ses ancêtres en abordant l’habitat traditionnel, plaidant ainsi pour les connaissances et l’inventivité inuit. Troisièmement, l’article examine la représentation de multiples voix dans les débats autour du territoire dont celles des communautés Inuit mais également des non-humains, y compris les animaux et la terre. S’appuyant sur la notion de « lignes » et sur « l’entre-deux », l’article explore les enchevêtrements de lignes des caricatures politiques d’Ipellie, mais également des tracés du colonialisme tels que les frontières, routes, oléoducs, bâtiments, infrastructures, relevés et plans.
Mots-clés:
- Activisme,
- Alootook Ipellie,
- Arctique,
- territoire,
- lignes,
- représentation,
- colonialisme
Appendices
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