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Bringing new, meaningful colour to Cape Dorset

Three months of artistic and cultural programming for Cape Dorset youth was set to wrap up with the Quviana Parade on Saturday. Art, dancing hunting were to be among the concepts highlighted as parade participants march through the streets.

Youth in Cape Dorset gave this gazebo a coat of paint and put some meaningful drawings on its exterior and interior.
photo courtesy of Alexa Hatanaka/Embassy of Imagination

"It's just about celebrating and having fun together... It's kind of like the finale of our time here," said Alexa Hatanaka, a facilitator with the Embassy of Imagination, a Toronto/Cape Dorset-based program that promotes art and healthy lifestyles. Hatanaka and Patrick Thompson make annual trips to Cape Dorset and sometimes bring the youth to cities in the south to paint murals.

Paper mache projects and sewing skills were put to use to make costumes and objects that were to be on display during the parade, which Hatanaka estimated would involve 50 youth from ages nine to 22. Quviana means fun or joyous in Inuktitut.

Some of the youth were also involved in video projects and painting a mural on a gazebo in town.

"It (the gazebo) was looking a little scruffy, so now it's nicely painted and has drawings on it by a number of youth," said Hatanaka, who noted that the Hamlet of Cape Dorset approved of the work.

Youth in Cape Dorset painted this gazebo and created images pertaining to geese and geese hunting on the exterior while the interior drawings relate to surreal animals. The youth who had a hand in the drawings were Moe Kelly, Joanasie Tunnillie, David Pudlat, Salomonie Ashoona, Saaki Nuna, Tommy Quvianaqtuliaq, Christine Adamie and Dennis Hayward. The painters were Johnny Samayualie, Olayou Nuna, Taqialuk Nuna, Jacky Kelly, Miali Mangitak, Oqittuq Pudlat, Katsua Saila, Kevin Qimirpik, Harry Josephee, Joanasie Atsiaq, Qavavau Mangitak, Koonoo Akesuk, Annie Oshutsiaq, Mary Lisa Parr, Iqaluk Quvianaqtuliaq, Janine Manning, Cie Taqiasuk, Gina Curley, Jutani Alariaq and Miakulu Salomonie. Embassy of Imagination and visiting Toronto artist Leah Mersky organized the project. Photo courtesy of Alexa Hatanaka/Embassy of Imagination