Abstract:
As an urban Inuk, I grew up with intergenerational trauma, in poverty, around addictions, mental health crises and in and out of Child Protective Services during the Millennial Scoop. However, I am a very proud alumni of Nunavut Sivuniksavut. My life turned around completely after reclaiming my culture, and I graduated college with honours, and a 3.95 GPA. As a self taught emerging photographer, Katherine Takpannie honours her Inuit worldview through her lens; one that is strongly grounded in social accountability and unity. To her, photography is the best medium to reclaim her identity and explore her experiences as an urban Inuk. Katherine uses her knowledge of her history, culture and language to seamlessly convey her vision and emotion. Takpannie's artistic practice also focuses on revealing the complexities and nuances of urban Inuit life, which includes capturing contemporary issues that Indigenous Canadians face daily. Katherine aims to help raise awareness, and bring forth important conversations through her work.