Unfrozen Stories

Ice, snow, and permafrost are integral to Arctic human-nature connections. It provides shelter, water, and infrastructure, and forms Arctic identities. Indigenous Peoples’ livelihoods deeply intertwine with frozen landscapes. Our ancestors have developed diverse ways of interacting with, keeping and sharing knowledge about living in the cold environments, including through language, art, and ways of being. Deterioration of Arctic frozen environments driven by climate change impacts not only Indigenous communities but has the potential of affecting the whole of humanity. Complexity of problems the Arctic is facing today requires a search for new ways of discussing, understanding, and envisioning our relationship with land and water for now and for the future.  

Unique long-standing relationships with frozen commons are masterfully incorporated into Indigenous art forms which can be understood as forms of art that stem from the holistic understanding of human and other then human relationships. With the goal of bringing Indigenous voices forward to speak about socio-environmental challenges, community well-being, justice and equality, success and failure, Indigenous art forms provide a glimpse into the knowledge base and experiences of Arctic communities building a bridge of understanding across diverse knowledge systems. 

Intergenerational knowledge transfer and relationality are foundational for Indigenous creative storytelling and constitute the core basis in the creation of the art pieces. Knowledge of grass weaving, skin and fur sewing, beading, and carving does not come in one day. These skills come from within the community across multiple generations of meticulous practitioners and those observing them with care and are further delivered by artists and storytellers to wider audiences.  

Stories skillfully crafted by Indigenous women seamlessly come together to celebrate the vibrant Arctic life and at the same time grieve the lost generations of knowledge holders, interrupted relations, and the rapidly melting ecosystem. Through this exhibition we draw attention to how Indigenous creative storytelling depicts delicate understanding of plentiful states of Arctic waters including diverse qualities of snow, variable conditions of ice, and rapidly changing permafrost grounds. Stories shared here represent strong and resilient cultures that continue relying on old and time-tested Indigenous smart technologies of comfortable living in the North. These stories were diligently gathered by generations of Indigenous hunters, reindeer herders, fishermen, berry and herb pickers, mothers, fathers, grandparents, great-grandparents… Depicting the essence of what it means to be a respectful and responsible citizen of the Arctic ecosystem, these artworks celebrate the beautiful Arctic lands and waters that are viewed by Indigenous Peoples not as wilderness and a hostile environment, but as a deeply loved home.