On May 16th and 17th, the Nunavut Arts & Crafts Association (NACA) partnered with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada to present Seal Day on the Hill in Ottawa, including a networking dinner for sealskin designers and industry professionals from Nunavut, Nunatsiavut and Nunavik. The event is an opportunity for the sealing community to share information about the cultural, economic, and health benefits of sealing in Canada’s North.

In a joint statement issued by the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Hunter Tootoo, and Parliamentary Secretary and Member of Parliament for Labrador, Yvonne Jones, Seal Day on the Hill was described as an important event that “puts a human face on Canada’s sealing industry”, and “sends messages that need to be heard across the country and around the world.”

The statement went on to describe sealing as “an important part of the traditional way of life in the North. It is a valuable source of food and income for thousands of Indigenous and non-Indigenous families in remote coastal communities… A vibrant Inuit cultural industry supporting the production and sale of clothing, fashion, art and other products is also deeply linked to sealing.”

NACA is a unique member of the CCF/FCMA, bringing the artistic perspective and culture of the north to the national community. We congratulate the NACA members whose work was highlighted during the events, including designers Victoria Kakuktinniq, Elisapi D. Aningmiuq, Sandra Rideout and Victoria Okpik.