{"id":115033,"date":"2026-10-13T00:53:38","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T00:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tarqitamaat.ca\/?page_id=115033"},"modified":"2026-10-13T01:30:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T01:30:39","slug":"%e1%91%91%e1%92%aa%e1%94%85-%e1%95%97%e1%90%83%e1%91%a6%e1%93%95-thomas-whiteley","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tarqitamaat.ca\/?page_id=115033","title":{"rendered":"\u1451\u14aa\u1505 \u1557\u1403\u1466\u14d5 | Thomas Whiteley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u1450\u1553\u152e\u1548\u1466 | Juillet | July<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u1451\u14aa\u1505 \u1557\u1403\u1466\u14d5 \u1455\u146f\u14a5\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u144e \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u144e\u14bb\u14a5\u152b\u1550\u144e\u1405\u14f1\u14c2 \u1470\u1466\u152a\u140a\u14a5\u1405\u1585 \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u146f\u142f\u1483 \u14ef\u144e\u14a5\u1405\u148d\u1466\u14f1\u14c2. \u1403\u14da\u14d5\u1483 \u157f\u152a\u14d0\u14c2\u1483 \u14f4\u14c7\u14ef\u144e\u14c2\u1483 \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u14f4\u14c7\u1595\u1591\u140a\u14ef\u144e\u1405\u14ef\u14aa\u158f\u14d0\u14c7\u14f1\u14c2. \u1405\u14ea\u14d7\u14a5\u14c2\u1455\u1550\u14ef\u1405\u144e\u1483 \u1403\u14c4\u1483 \u140a\u1591\u144e\u1483 \u1431\u1555\u1466\u14f4\u1583\u1548\u14d0\u14c7\u14f2\u1585 \u14c4\u14c7\u1555\u1405\u1449 \u157f\u14da\u1593\u144e\u148d\u1466 \u144e\u14bb\u14a5\u152b\u1550\u1438\u14f1\u14c2, \u14c4\u14c7\u14a5 \u1406\u14aa\u152a\u1550\u14ef\u1405\u1555\u1583\u1550\u1438\u14f1\u14c2, \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u157f\u152a\u14d0\u14c2\u1483 \u14f4\u14c7\u14f2\u148d\u1466\u14f1\u14c2 \u1403\u14da\u14a5\u1455 \u14f4\u14c7\u1555\u1593\u14c2. \u14c7\u146f\u1550\u14aa\u1466 \u1472\u144e\u1555\u1483 \u1403\u14d5\u14f4\u1550\u14c2\u14d5\u1546\u14c2\u1585, \u140a\u14a5\u14f1\u1403\u14c2\u1483 \u1455\u146f\u14a5\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14d5\u1405\u1548\u14ef\u14d5\u1546\u1528 \u14f4\u14c7\u1595\u1591\u140a\u144e \u1470\u1466\u152a\u140a\u14d5\u140a\u14da\u1405\u1550\u14ef\u14aa\u14bb\u14aa\u1466 2022-\u14a5 \u14c7\u144f\u14d0 \u1438\u1546\u1450 \u1472\u152a\u14ef\u144e\u1466\u14ef\u148b\u140a\u1550\u1450\u14f1\u14c2 \u1438\u1466\u144e\u144e\u1490\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u14c2\u14a5\u1483, \u1451\u14aa\u1505 \u1431\u14ef\u144e\u1595\u1591\u1555\u1583\u14da\u1405\u1550\u14ef\u14aa\u152a\u1585 \u1438\u1466\u144e\u144e\u1490\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u14c2\u14a5\u1483. \u1451\u14aa\u1505 \u140a\u14d5\u140a\u148b\u152d\u1583\u14ea\u14da\u1546\u1466\u1450\u1585 \u1455\u146f\u14a5\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u14c2\u14c2\u1483 \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u14c7\u152a\u1550\u144e\u14d5\u1555\u14c2\u1405\u1466\u14f1\u14c2 \u140a\u14ea\u14da\u1591\u140a\u1550\u1555\u14a5\u14c2\u1483, \u144c\u1466\u14f1\u14aa\u14c2\u14c2\u1455\u1490, \u1583\u1405\u1528\u14aa\u14da\u1405\u1550\u14ef\u14aa\u1595\u158f\u1450\u1585 \u14f4\u14c7\u1595\u1591\u140a\u14c2\u1550\u14a5\u1483 \u1431\u14c7\u14f1\u1490\u1583\u14ea\u14da\u1546\u14da\u1593\u148b\u140a\u14a5\u1483. \u1455\u155d\u1559\u14c2 \u1403\u14d5\u14d0\u14c2\u140a\u144e\u1466\u14ef\u14c2\u1550\u14a5 \u1472\u144e\u14aa\u14c2\u140a\u1548\u14ef\u1550\u14a5, \u14c4\u1403\u1466\u14ef\u14ef\u14aa\u152a\u1585 \u1431\u1593\u14f1\u14c2\u1483 \u1431\u152a\u1466\u14f4\u1405\u14db\u14d5\u1405\u14a5\u148d\u144e\u148b\u1466\u14f1\u148b\u1466 \u1455\u146f\u14a5\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u14c2\u14a7\u1466 \u1403\u14d5\u1555\u148b\u14da\u157f\u1405\u144e\u148b\u1466\u14f1\u148b\u1466 : \u1405\u14a5\u14bb\u14aa\u152a\u140a\u1550\u1450, \u140a\u1591\u144e\u1595\u1591\u140a\u1585 \u1405\u14a5\u14bb\u14aa\u1405\u1449 \u1584\u1593\u14c5\u1550\u1450\u1591\u140a\u1585 : \u1470\u14db\u14d7\u1483, ever cool man, \u1405\u14ea\u14d7\u14a5\u14c2\u1455\u1595\u1591\u140a\u1585 \u140a\u1591\u144e\u1595\u1591\u140a\u1585 \u140a\u144e\u148b\u14ef\u14aa\u1466\u14f1\u14c2, \u14c4\u1456\u152e\u14d0\u14c2\u1483 \u1403\u14a1\u1490\u14ef\u14aa\u1466\u14f1\u14c2 \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u144e\u1550\u157f\u140a\u14d5\u1483\u1472\u14f1\u14c2 : \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u140a\u1405\u1438\u14da\u152e\u14d7\u1483, \u1403\u14c4\u1595\u1591\u140a\u1483 \u14aa\u1550\u1549\u1483 \u144e\u148d\u14a5\u140a\u1550\u1451\u1483 \u1403\u14f2\u1550\u14a5\u1483, \u1431\u14c7\u14f1\u140a\u1550\u14ef\u14aa\u152d\u158f\u1466 \u140a\u1466\u1528\u1490\u14db\u148d\u144e\u1455\u1405\u148d\u14d0\u14c7\u1450\u1466 \u1431\u14ef\u144e\u14bb\u14aa\u1546\u1405\u14f2\u1466 \u1455\u146f\u14a5\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u144f\u1466 \u14f4\u14c7\u1595\u1591\u140a\u14f2\u158f\u1466\u1455 \u146d\u1595\u1593\u14a5\u1405\u1466.\n\u1472\u144e\u14ef\u14d0\u14c2\u154b\u14a5 \u14c7\u144f\u14d0\u14a5\u1483, \u1451\u14aa\u1505 \u1455\u146f\u152d\u1550\u1450\u14ef\u14aa\u14d5\u1550\u1455\u1593 \u14c4\u14c7\u1593\u14c4\u1466 Campbell River-\u14a7\u1466, \u1431\u14c7\u14f1\u140a\u1583\u1455\u1405\u14bb\u14a5\u14aa\u1466 Kwakwaka’wakw \u14c4\u14c7\u14d5\u1450\u1583\u1466\u14f4\u152d\u14c2\u1483 \u1403\u14da\u1405\u1466\u14f1\u14c2 Hamdzatsi-\u1403\u1466 \u1403\u14da\u148c\u1466\u1450\u14c2\u140a\u1546\u14ef\u14aa\u152d\u158f\u14d0\u14c4. \u1456\u1557\u1595\u1593\u1438\u1466\u14f1\u14c2 \u1431\u1559\u14ea\u14d5\u140a\u144e\u1466\u14ef\u14ef\u14aa\u14d5\u1550\u1450\u1585 \u157f\u152a\u1403\u1466 \u140a\u1450\u1550\u14f1\u148b\u1466 \u1438\u1466\u144e\u144e\u1490\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u14c2\u14a5\u1483 \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u1472\u144e\u1550\u14f1\u1403\u1559\u14ea\u14d5\u140a\u14ef\u14aa\u14d5\u1550\u14f1\u14c2 \u14f4\u14c7\u1550\u1548\u144e\u14c2\u1483 \u140a\u14d0\u14c2\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u1581\u144e\u148b\u14d5\u1550\u14f1\u148b\u1466.

\n2024-\u14a5, \u1583\u14a7\u14ef\u1405\u1550\u1438\u14d5\u140a\u14d5\u1550\u1450\u1555\u14c2\u1585, \u1403\u14c4\u1403\u1466 \u1431\u1405\u14ef\u1450\u1583\u1593\u144e\u148d\u1466 \u157f\u14a7\u1466\u14ef\u1405\u144e\u14c2\u1483. \u1403\u14f1\u14aa\u1456\u14da\u157f\u1405\u144e\u1555\u14c2\u158f\u1466 \u14c4\u1403\u1466\u14ef\u14da\u1593\u14d5\u1550\u14f1\u14c2 \u1438\u1466\u144e\u144e\u1490\u14d5\u140a\u1490\u1550\u14c2\u1483 \u1403\u14d8\u14d0\u14c7\u158f\u14d0\u14c2\u1483 \u1583\u14a7\u144e\u1405\u1449 \u1403\u14da\u14d5\u14ab\u158f\u14d0\u14c2\u1483. \u1456\u1483\u146f\u140a \u1455\u146f\u1466\u14f4\u1405\u144e\u1466\u14ef\u152a\u1466 \u140a\u1466\u1528\u148c\u1595\u158f\u1450\u14c2\u1483 \u1403\u14d5\u1593\u1466\u14f1\u144e\u1483 \u1403\u14d7\u14a1\u148d\u14ef\u1546\u152d\u14a7\u1466 \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u1406\u14aa\u152a\u158f\u14d0\u14c4\u1466 \u14c4\u14c7\u14d5\u14d5\u14ab\u1466. \u14c4\u1403\u1466\u14ef\u14da\u157f\u14ef\u14aa\u152a\u1585 \u140a\u1466\u1528\u1583\u1595\u158f\u1451\u14d0\u14c2\u1483 \u1583\u14a7\u144f\u14d0\u14c2\u1483, \u140a\u158f\u152a\u1550\u14da\u1405\u144e\u14d7\u148b\u1466 \u140a\u1466\u1528\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u14ef\u14aa\u14d5\u1550\u14f1\u14c2 \u1583\u14a7\u144e\u1405\u1449 \u14f1\u14c7\u1455\u14d5\u14ab\u158f\u14d0\u14c2\u1483. \u1431\u14c7\u14f1\u140a\u1550\u14ef\u14aa\u152d\u14d5\u14ab\u158f\u1466 \u14c4\u1403\u1455\u144e\u1455\u1405\u14da\u1405\u152b\u1466 \u1403\u14da\u1405\u144e\u14d7\u148b\u1466 \u1455\u146f\u14a5\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u144e\u1405\u1449 \u1403\u14c4\u1451\u1466\u1528\u14f1\u14c2 \u1455\u146f\u1466\u14f4\u1405\u144e\u1466\u14ef\u14c2\u1593\u14c4 La Guilde-\u14a5 36-\u148d\u148d\u144e\u1593\u14c2 \u1472\u152a\u14ef\u144e\u1455\u1405\u14c2\u1593\u1455 \u1406\u14aa Festival international Pr\u00e9sence autochtone 2026 \u140a\u1405\u152d\u1593\u14c2, \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u1470\u1466\u152a\u140a\u14a7\u1466 \u1405\u144e\u14db\u1550\u14f1\u14c2 Path to 100 Year Festival-\u14a7\u1466 (\u140a\u1550\u1581\u144e\u1483 100-\u1405\u148d\u144e\u14a7\u1466 \u140a\u1550\u154c\u148d\u14a7\u1466 \u1472\u144e\u1595\u1591\u140a\u144e\u1466\u14ef\u14c2\u1550\u14a7\u1466, \u1450\u146d\u14ef\u14c7\u1550\u144e\u14ef\u1405\u144e\u158f\u1466 \u1472\u14aa\u148b\u152d\u1405\u144e\u14d7\u148b\u1466 \u140a\u14ef\u14d0\u14c7\u152d\u1550\u14a7\u1466.

\n\u1451\u14aa\u1505 \u1403\u14f1\u14aa\u14da\u1405\u1550\u14ef\u14aa\u14da\u1405\u152a\u1595\u158f\u1450\u1585 \u1455\u146f\u14a5\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u144e\u1405\u14c2\u1550\u14a7\u1466 \u14c4\u1403\u14da\u157f\u14f2\u14a5\u14c4\u1466 \u1431\u14ea\u14da\u1546\u1466\u14ef\u140a\u154b\u152d\u1546\u140a\u14a5\u1483 \u1405\u14ea\u14d7\u14a5 \u1431\u14da\u157f\u14ef\u14aa\u14d5\u154b\u14a5. \u1472\u144e\u14ef\u14da\u1405\u152a\u1466\u14f1\u14c2 \u14c7\u144f\u14d0\u14a5\u1483, \u14c4\u1403\u1455\u144e\u1455\u1405\u14ef\u14aa\u14d5\u1550\u1450\u1466 CRAG-\u14a5 \u155a\u14d0\u1470\u1559\u1405\u1449 \u157f\u146d\u1550\u1455\u1593\u14c2 Vancouver Island, \u1405\u1559\u14c2 La Guilde \u14aa\u14d0\u1450\u1528\u140a\u14da\u14a5, \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u144f\u1555 \u14f4\u14c7\u1595\u1591\u140a\u14ef\u14aa\u152a\u1583\u1405\u144e\u14a5 \u1470\u1466\u152a\u140a\u14a5. \u1403\u14da\u1405\u1472\u1431\u14db\u14d5\u1550\u14f1\u14c2 \u14f4\u14c7\u1595\u1591\u140a\u1546\u140a\u1550\u1450\u1555\u14d5\u140a\u1550\u1450\u14c4\u1466 \u146d\u14a1\u1490\u1450\u1550\u14c2\u144e\u148d\u1466 Atelier de l’\u00cele-\u14a5 Val-David-\u14a5, \u1438\u1466\u144e\u144e\u1490\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u1555\u14a5, \u1401\u1449\u1438\u1583\u1550\u14d7\u14c2 \u140a\u146d\u14c7\u14ef \u1439\u1450\u1546\u1466\u1505\u14a5\u1483, \u14c4\u14c7\u1555\u14bb\u14a5\u1405\u148d\u14bb\u14a5\u14f1\u14c2 \u14f4\u14c7\u1595\u1591\u140a\u144e\u1405\u14bb\u14a5\u152a\u14a5\u1483. \u1431\u14c7\u14f1\u140a\u1548\u1466\u1528\u1405\u144e\u1483 S’enforester, \u14ed\u14aa\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14a6\u1466\u1450\u1585 \u1472\u144e\u144e\u1466\u14ef\u14c2\u1405\u14db\u1550\u1450\u1585 \u1403\u14c4\u14d0\u14c2\u1483 \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u1403\u14c4\u1450\u1403\u14d0\u14c7\u1405\u158f\u1466\u1450\u14c2\u1483 \u1455\u146f\u14a5\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u144e\u14c2\u1483 \u1455\u146f\u152d\u1405\u144e\u148b\u140a\u1550\u1450\u14d7\u144e\u1483 \u140a\u1550\u1581\u144e\u148b\u14d7\u148b\u1466 \u1455\u146f\u14a5\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u14ef\u144e\u1405\u14c2\u158f\u1466 \u1455\u146f\u1466\u14f4\u1405\u144e\u1466\u14ef\u148d\u14d0\u14c7\u1450\u14c2\u1483 \u1583\u14c4\u1403\u14d5\u1593\u1405\u144e\u14c2\u158f\u14d0\u14c2\u1483 \u14c4\u14c7\u1405\u1449 \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u1583\u14c4\u1403\u1595\u158f\u14ef\u140a\u1550\u14c2\u1405\u1449.

\n\u1438\u1466\u144e\u144e\u1490\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u14c2\u1585 \u1431\u14c7\u14f1\u140a\u1550\u1455\u1405\u14aa\u1546\u1466\u14ef\u14aa\u152a\u1585 1970-\u14c2 \u14c7\u146f\u1550\u14aa\u1455 \u146f\u140a\u142f\u1466. \u144c\u1466\u14f1\u14aa\u14c2\u14c2\u1466, \u146d\u14ef\u140a\u14c2, \u1438\u1466\u144e\u144e\u1490\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u14c2\u1585 \u14c4\u1403\u1455\u1466\u14ef\u140a\u1548\u14d0\u14c0\u14ef\u14aa\u14bb\u14aa\u1466 \u1451\u14aa\u1505 \u1403\u14da\u1405\u14da\u157f\u14ef\u14aa\u152a\u1585 \u140a\u14a5\u14f2\u1595\u158f\u1450\u14c4\u1466 \u14c4\u14c7\u1555\u14bb\u14a5\u1405\u14c4\u1466 \u1403\u14c4\u14d0\u14c4\u1466 \u1403\u14da\u148b\u14d5\u1405\u144e\u14ef\u14aa\u14d5\u1550\u14f1\u14c2 \u1450\u1593\u14d5\u158f\u14d0\u14c4\u1466 \u1405\u14ea\u14d7\u14a5 \u1403\u14c5\u14d5\u1550\u1450\u1466 \u1438\u1466\u144e\u144e\u1490\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u144e\u14c4\u1466. \u2018\u2019\u1403\u14bb\u14a5\u14c2\u1483 \u14f1\u14d5 \u1455\u146f\u14d0\u14c7\u1450\u1593 \u1472\u152a\u14ef\u14da\u1593\u14c2\u154b\u14c2\u1483 \u144e\u14bb\u14a5\u152b\u1550\u144e\u1405\u14c2\u1550\u14a5\u1483, \u1406\u14aa\u152a\u1550\u14ef\u1405\u144e\u1405\u14c2\u1550\u14c2\u1483 \u140a\u14bb\u14aa\u14d7 \u1438\u1466\u144e\u144e\u1490\u14d5\u1405\u1550\u144e\u1405\u14c2\u1550\u14a5\u1483,\u2019\u2019 \u14da\u14da\u1405\u1550\u1450\u1585.\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Whiteley est un artiste et pilote d’avion originaire de Kuujjuaq et de la ville de Qu\u00e9bec. Il vient d’une famille d’\u00e9b\u00e9nistes et a toujours eu la fibre artistique. C’est un homme inuk moderne qui partage son temps entre voler dans les airs du Nunavik, parcourir la toundra en mode chasse, mais \u00e9galement pratiquer le travail du bois dans l\u2019atelier de la famille. C’est gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 Kativik Ilisarniliriniq que Nadine Bariteau, une artiste multidisciplinaire, est all\u00e9e \u00e0 Kuujjuaq pour donner des ateliers de gravure en 2022 et que Thomas a approfondi sa ma\u00eetrise de cette pratique. Thomas \u00e9tait passionn\u00e9 d’art, il avait son carnet de croquis, mais jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce moment, il ne se doutait pas qu’il avait une carri\u00e8re artistique devant lui. Lors de cette formation, il fait trois \u0153uvres qui le propulsent dans le monde de l’art : \u00ab Ummimajuartu \u00bb, un homme qui monte sur un b\u0153uf musqu\u00e9 ; \u00ab Kuulaaluk, ever cool man \u00bb, le portrait d’un homme inuk moderne, v\u00eatu d’un parka, de lunettes sportives et d’une casquette ; et \u00ab Aupalajaaluk \u00bb, deux personnes qui tiennent un poisson g\u00e9ant, une \u0153uvre qui peut sembler rendre hommage au style connu, par exemple, chez les artistes de Cape Dorset.

\nDepuis sa rencontre avec Nadine, Thomas a eu \u00e0 plusieurs reprises l’opportunit\u00e9 d’aller lui rendre visite \u00e0 Campbell River, o\u00f9 elle travaille \u00e9galement avec le peuple Kwakwaka’wakw sous le collectif Hamdzatsi. Ses visites lui ont permis de d\u00e9velopper sa pratique de gravure sur bois et de se b\u00e2tir une collection d’outils qu\u2019il ch\u00e9rit.

\nEn 2024, il entreprend la construction d’un qamutik, un tra\u00eeneau \u00e0 chiens traditionnel. L’id\u00e9e vient alors de faire des gravures sur chaque surface du tra\u00eeneau. Celles-ci repr\u00e9sentent diff\u00e9rentes sc\u00e8nes reli\u00e9es \u00e0 la culture et \u00e0 la faune de la r\u00e9gion. Le r\u00e9sultat cr\u00e9e non seulement un tra\u00eeneau unique, mais aussi des estampes de grands formats imprim\u00e9es \u00e0 partir des surfaces du tra\u00eeneau. L\u2019ensemble de l’\u0153uvre a \u00e9t\u00e9 expos\u00e9 dans la premi\u00e8re exposition solo de l\u2019artiste \u00e0 La Guilde pour la 36e \u00e9dition du Festival international Pr\u00e9sence autochtone \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9t\u00e9 2026 et retournera \u00e0 Kuujjuaq pour le \u00ab Path to 100 \u00bb, commissari\u00e9 par asinnajaq. Jamais Thomas ne se serait dout\u00e9 que sa pratique artistique conna\u00eetrait le succ\u00e8s qu’il vit aujourd’hui. Depuis sa rencontre avec Nadine, son travail a \u00e9t\u00e9 expos\u00e9 au CRAG, sur l\u2019\u00eele de Vancouver, \u00e0 La Guilde, \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al, et \u00e0 la galerie Tivi, \u00e0 Kuujjuaq. Il partira sous peu en r\u00e9sidence \u00e0 Val-David, \u00e0 l’Atelier de l\u2019\u00eele, un centre de production en art imprim\u00e9, aux c\u00f4t\u00e9s d’Akinasi Partridge, aussi graveur originaire de Kuujjuaq. Le programme \u00ab S’enforester, \u14ed\u14aa\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14a6\u1466\u1450\u1585 \u00bb mettra des artistes inuit et non inuit en lumi\u00e8re autour d’une d\u00e9marche artistique qui met en relation le territoire et le bien-\u00eatre.

\nLa gravure \u00e9tait commun\u00e9ment pratiqu\u00e9e dans les ann\u00e9es soixante-dix gr\u00e2ce aux coop\u00e9ratives du Nouveau-Qu\u00e9bec, mais, depuis, le d\u00e9clin de cette discipline fait de Thomas l’un des rares jeunes Inuit du Nunavik \u00e0 faire partie de la rel\u00e8ve. \u00ab Je me vois continuer \u00e0 \u00eatre pilote d’avion, chasseur et graveur \u00bb, partage-t-il. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Whiteley is an artist and airplane pilot from Kuujjuaq and Quebec City. He comes from a family of woodworkers and has always had an artistic streak. He is a modern Inuk man who divides his time between flying through the skies of Nunavik, travelling across the tundra on hunting trips, and practising woodworking in the family workshop. Thanks to Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, multidisciplinary artist Nadine Bariteau travelled to Kuujjuaq in 2022 to lead printmaking workshops, where Thomas further developed his skills in the medium. Thomas was passionate about art and kept a sketchbook, but until then, he had no idea that an artistic career lay ahead of him. During this workshop, he created three works that propelled him into the art world: Ummimajuartu, depicting a man climbing onto a muskox; Kuulaaluk, ever cool man, a portrait of a modern Inuk man wearing a parka, sporty glasses and a cap; and Aupalajaaluk, depicting two people holding a giant fish, a work that may be seen as paying homage to the style associated with artists from Cape Dorset.

\nSince meeting Nadine, Thomas has had several opportunities to visit her in Campbell River, where she also works with the Kwakwaka’wakw people as part of the Hamdzatsi collective. These visits have allowed him to develop his woodblock printmaking practice and build a collection of tools that he cherishes.\nIn 2024, he began building a qamutik, a traditional dog sled. This gave him the idea of creating prints on every surface of the sled. These depict various scenes connected to the culture and wildlife of the region. The result is not only a unique sled, but also large-format prints made from the sled’s surfaces. The entire body of work was exhibited as part of the artist’s first solo exhibition at La Guilde during the 36th edition of the Festival international Pr\u00e9sence autochtone in the summer of 2026, and will return to Kuujjuaq for Path to 100 Year Festival, curated by asinnajaq.

\nThomas never imagined that his artistic practice would achieve the success he is experiencing today. Since meeting Nadine, his work has been exhibited at CRAG on Vancouver Island, at La Guilde in Montreal, and at Tivi Gallery in Kuujjuaq. He will soon take part in a residency in Val-David at Atelier de l’\u00cele, a printmaking production centre, alongside Akinasi Partridge, another Nunavik artist. The programme S’enforester, \u14ed\u14aa\u14c7\u1550\u1450\u14a6\u1466\u1450\u1585 will bring Inuit and non-Inuit artists into the spotlight through an artistic approach that explores the relationship between land and well-being.

\nPrintmaking was widely practised in the 1970s thanks to the Coops Since then, however, the decline of this discipline has made Thomas one of the few young Inuit in Nunavik to be part of the next generation of printmakers. \u201cI see myself continuing to be an airplane pilot, a hunter and a printmaker,\u201d he says.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u140a\u14ea\u14da\u1450\u1585 | Texte de | Text by: Olivia Lya Thomassie<\/p>\n