Photo: Making jewelry in Nain

Participants at a carving workshop in Nain, Labrador learn how to make jewelry. “Both young and older came to learn to do some carvings,” said Piita Irniq, invited to Nunatsiaqvut to teach Inuit culture, history, political development and healing from residential school trauma. “They made beautiful jewelry out of soapstone and caribou antler. Inuit are fantastic artists.” Irniq, a former commissioner of Nunavut who now provides counsel as an Inuit elder at 11 Correctional Institutions in Ontario, also met with Inuit inmates in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. “I think it’s really good for Inuit men to get visitors from people such as Inuit elders and give them a message about Inuit culture and language. When they have a past, they can know better to move forward.” (PHOTO COURTESY OF P. IRNIQ)