On February 19th, 2014, I held my first ever photography show: Footsteps North. The show was held at the Verity, a club for women in Toronto. My intention for the show was to inspire my guests to learn more about Nunavut and what the North has to teach those of us in the South. I was also making a transition to include photography as an integral part of my work, especially how it might play a role in more culturally-appropriate evaluations for the North. I also thought the show would help my friends understand what I am doing when I go away for long stretches at a time. I wanted to dispel the notion that I fly to Iqaluit in a small plane too.
I have been working with Ilitaqsiniq--the Nunavut Literacy
Council--since 2007 in a variety of roles, especially project evaluator, and I really wanted to honour their work. The show was inspired by desire to highlight images from the Miqqut Program they developed, which has had life-changing results for the women who attend. This program is holistic and culturally rich. It embeds literacy and language into traditionally sewing. Elder sewing instructors and literacy instructors teach the program.
I have been the program evaluator for the last several years. 
The results are astounding. Participants use the program as a stepping stone to further education and employment. But that's not all. The program is also about healing, growing as a person, being closer to one's family, and carrying on Inuit traditions.
The show was a thrilling experience with over 100 people attending! My Nunavut friends and colleagues from Illitaqsiniq had a big surprise for me. They arranged to have their meetings in the Toronto area so they could attend the show. That was just one of the best parts for me.
There were 29 images in the show. They were taken from "around town" whenever I had a moment and from a spontaneous photo shoot I had with Miqqut Program participants in Rankin Inlet in 2012. The images I have featured in this posting are some of those featured in the show itself.
When you have a show of this magnitude, there are many people to thank. I had three wonderful sponsors: The College Sector Committee for Adult Upgrading, Essential Skills Ontario, a
nd Ilitaqsiniq. There were countless others who helped in so many ways. I want to acknowledge a very special person who gave freely of his own time to help me put together every aspect of the show from choosing images, to framing, to set up, to taking care of sales the night of, and finally taking everything down. Thank you so much Sandy McMurrich!! I could not have done this show without you. And, of course, thanks to my husband, Howard, and daughter, Tannis.
I hope that everyone will think of taking a trip to Nunavut at least once in their lifetime if they haven't already.
Thank you so much for visiting my web site and reading this blog.
Sue Folinsbee
Tri En Communications
March 2021
