Antenna as Canvas project celebrated in Inuvik, N.W.T.

It was a colourful National Indigenous Peoples Day in Inuvik, N.W.T., on Friday as the final touches on a public art project were revealed.

All five satellite receivers at National Resources Canada's Inuvik Satellite Station Facility are now decorated with artwork by local Indigenous artists — three of which were completed in August 2018.

"I was blown away," said Corinna Vester, a manager with the federal department, of seeing the artwork.

The art installation is part of Natural Resources Canada's Antenna as Canvas project.

"I think this project is very important in terms of engaging the community here, bringing them into our site, making the site something that is part of their space," said Vester.

"We're kind of privileged and grateful to be able to do our work on their land."

The artists behind the project are Ronnie Simon, Sheree McLeod, Ron English, Anick Jenks and the East Three Secondary School Art Club. They were selected by the project's partners: the Gwich'in Tribal Council, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Inuvik Métis Council and the Town of Inuvik.

Friday's celebration was well attended by community members, she said, and included speeches and a blanket toss. 

Vester said the project was started because they were looking for something to do with all the antennas in Inuvik, particularly for Canada's 150th birthday.

"We became cognizant fairly early on that Canada 150 was not a celebration for many Indigenous people in Canada," she said. "We knew right away we're not going to slap a big Canada 150 symbol on our dish."

Vester said the art installation was inspired by a project from Geoscience Australia, where a local Indigenous group contributed artwork to a satellite.