Elders – Northwest Territories

Elder Councils and Gathering Places

Northwest Territories Seniors' Societies

This link contains information on seniors' and elders' societies from across the NWT.

Source: Government of Northwest Territories; Health and Social Services

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Health and Social Services

Seniors' Literacy in Northwest Territories (PDF)

The purpose of this research was to better understand the literacy needs and preferences of NWT seniors, and make recommendations for better and more relevant literacy services and support.

Source: Northwest Territories Literacy Council

Seniors Services

This page offers various links that provide information specific to seniors in the Northwest Territories.

Source: Government of Northwest Territories; Health and Social Services

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Notable Elders

Banksland, Alec Aliknak (Artist)

Excerpt from a video interview with Aliknak, whose drawings are meticulously detailed interpretations of traditional life and whose felt tip pen drawings are fully coloured in a painterly fashion.

Source: Government of Canada; Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

Carmichael, Fred

This page features Fred Carmichael, the first Aboriginal pilot in the NWT and 2007 and President of the Gwich'in Tribal Council.

Source: Gwich'in Tribal Council

Day, Billy

Features a short biography of Billy Day, 2006 recipient of the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the Environment category.

Source: The Fisheries Joint Management Committee

Egotak, Harry (Artist)

Excerpt form a video interview with Harry Egotak, who was one of the original group of five who made prints in the early 1960s. Egotak continued with the Co-op as the most productive printmaker until his retirement in 1987.

Source: Government of Canada; Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

Goose, Agnes Nanogak (1925–2001) (Artist)

Excerpt form a video interview with Agnes Nanogak Goose, who was a strong artistic presence at Holman and her work was a mainstay in the print collection. Since 1967, when her first prints were published, a total of 159 of her drawings have been translated into prints.

Source: Government of Canada; Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

Kagyut, William (Artist)

Excerpt form a video interview with William Kagyut, who made made prints and drawings in the early 1960s. Kagyut employed his carving skills to produce stonecuts for the Co-op from 1964 to 1968.

Source: Government of Canada; Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

Klengenberg, Elsie (Artist)

Excerpt form a video interview with Elsie Klengenberg, who was one of the first artists to learn and develop the stencilling technique that is used to great effect in Holman today.

Source: Government of Canada; Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

Life Histories of Elders

This page documents the life of 24 Elders from the four Gwich'in communities who have been featured in two Gwich'in Elders Calendars.

Source: Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute

Nigiyok, Mabel (Artist)

Excerpt form a video interview with Mabel Nigiyok, who began learning stencil printmaking in the Holman print shop in 1981. Since, she became one of its most productive artists and printmakers.

Source: Government of Canada; Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

Papidluk, Flossie (Artist)

Excerpt form a video interview with Flossie Papidluk, who made her first drawings when Barry Coomber visited the community as an art advisor in 1964. Between 1966 and 1984, eleven of her works have been translated into prints for the annual collections.

Source: Government of Canada; Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

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Traditional Knowledge

Gwich'in Language Dictionary

The Gwich'in Social & Cultural Institute has published to date four editions of the Gwich'in Language Dictionary. This page provides samples from the dictionaries with audio clips.

Source: Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute

Inuit Elders Speak About Caribou and Climate – Recording the Wisdom

Series of thoughts and reflections from Inuit elders on caribou and climate.

Source: Northern News Services

Oral Traditions

This page discusses the importance of oral traditions and storytelling in a language, Inuvialuktun, which until recent times had no written form.

Source: Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

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