Opening Ceremony & Vernissage of the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit

On Thursday, September 8th, 2022, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the Ajuinnata at McGill planning committee hosted an opening ceremony for Ajuinnata at McGill, as well as a vernissage of the “Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit: Art, Architecture, and Traditional Knowledge” exhibition (EVOQ Architecture).

Ajuinnata at McGill was an Inuit-focused event series that took place from September 8th to October 25th, 2022, at McGill. The series showcased Inuit excellence and achievement in a variety of fields.

The series featured presentations by Inuit political leaders (Pita Aatami, Lisa Koperqualuk, Natan Obed), health and wellness experts (Richard Budgell, Minnie Grey), climate change activists (Sheila Watt-Cloutier), artists (asinnajaq, Pasha Partridge), curators (Krista Ulujuk Zawadski), and more. Its aim was to facilitate a range of opportunities for the McGill community—and the Montreal community at large—to learn from and engage with Inuit leaders, scholars, artists, and their work.
The series also included the installation of the “Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit: Art, Architecture, and Traditional Knowledge” exhibition on McGill’s downtown campus, as well as a complementary Inuit art installation prepared by the McGill Visual Arts Collection, called Takunnanguaqtangit. Both were installed at McGill’s Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture.
The opening ceremony was hosted by Prof. Celeste Pedri-Spade, McGill’s first Associate Provost (Indigenous Initiatives). Following opening words from Prof. Pedri-Spade, Inuk Elder Reepa Evic-Carleton lit the qulliq, the traditional Inuit oil lamp, and provided an opening. This was followed by remarks from Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi and the “Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit: Art, Architecture, and Traditional Knowledge” exhibition curator, Isabelle Laurier.

During the vernissage, attendees enjoyed hors-d'œuvres prepared by award-winning Inuk chef, Trudy Metcalfe-Coe.

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