Signed: Resilient Inuk
Artist lives in: North Bay, ON
Community artist is from: Vanessa’s grandfather is from Sanikiluaq,
Nunavut
Categories of art practiced: Ethical Artist, Workshop Facilitator, Author,
Content Creator, Keynote Speaker, Sewing & Fashion: Indigenizing Clothing,
Jewelry Maker.,
Artistic focus:
Vanessa’s work centres on advocacy and awareness related to Missing and
Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), which informs both her creative
practice and public engagement.
Preferred materials & subjects: seal skins, fox fur, harvested materials,
beading, clothing.
Year of Birth: 1979
Artist’s background:
As a child, Vanessa grew up surrounded by community at the Timmins
Native Friendship Centre, where her mother served as president for over 20
years. Through this environment, Vanessa had early access to cultural
programming, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and a wide range of artistic
teachings. She was introduced to many forms of creative expression,
including ribbon skirts and ribbon shirts, drumstick making, dreamcatchers,
and rock painting. These experiences also included learning about
harvesting practices, respect for animals, and the importance of reusing
materials — teachings that shaped her perspective on Mother Earth and
continue to influence her work today.
In 2020, Vanessa’s relationship with Inuit Elders in Ottawa sparked a new
chapter in her artistic journey. After being gifted sealskin scraps, she began
working with the material for the first time. From these early creations, her
sealskin Red Dress pieces were born, grounding her practice in advocacy,
storytelling, and cultural connection. Vanessa’s mother was also a
dedicated crafter, and her collection of beadwork, stones, and tools was
eventually passed down to Vanessa, further strengthening the
intergenerational foundation of her art.
Displayed work & Artist Feedback:
Vanessa sells her works at Craft Fairs, Pow-wows, and through her website.
She also hosts workshops all across Canada, hosting over 23 workshops in
2025 alone.. Here she is able to see artists learning new skills and share
techniques for creating Red Dress Creations and Inuit crafts.
Vanessa speaks of her Involvement with Traditional Inuit Culture as such:
‘As an urban Inuk who has always lived in Ontario, my connection to Inuit
language and culture has been shaped by displacement rather than choice.
Due to tuberculosis, the Canadian Government removed my grandfather at
19 years old from his home in Sanikiluaq and relocated him to Ontario
where he was placed at The Beck Memorial Sanitorium for over 7 years.
That history continues to shape my lived experience and is why advocacy is
central to both my art and my voice.
My artistic practice is rooted in relationship, humility, and care. While living
in Ottawa in 2020, Elders gifted me sealskin scraps and, more importantly,
their belief in me. Those early offerings became the foundation of my
business and creative work. My art carries those beginnings—it reflects
love, trust, and teachings shared through time spent listening, learning
language, understanding cultural context, and sitting with Knowledge
Keepers and Elders, often virtually.
Alongside my art practice, I engage in advocacy and storytelling through
content creation, public speaking and writing, sharing my lived experience
as an urban Inuk. My work speaks to the reality of being away from home,
not speaking the language fluently, and longing for community—while also
affirming that Inuit belonging can be nurtured through relationship,
mentorship, and care. Through my art, I hope other urban Inuit see
themselves reflected and know that even far from home, they are not alone,
and they are worthy of cultural connection and love.’
Words of wisdom to other artists:
Vanessa’s art helps her to manage anxiety and offers healing. It also allows
her to put food on the table and grow her business. As words of motivation
to other artists and youth, she says: ‘Don’t give up, keep an open mind, keep
trying and help each other!’ As a kid she never knew that she would enjoy
crafting, but now she loves it and can happily craft for up to 16 hours a day.
Vanessa wants to see Indigenous women start working for themselves; to
learn, be inspired and make a living off of arts & crafts. She believes that
there is room for every artist, each in their uniqueness.
To purchase works, visit:
Website: www.resilientinukcreations.ca
Social media: @resilientinuk
Email: resilientinuk@gmail.com
Captions:
- Vanessa with her sealskin drum case and sealskin skirt and sealskin
vest that she made by hand. She is standing over the waters located
in Nipissing First Nation.
- Vanessa standing with her sealskin skirt and sealskin cape that she
made by hand. She made this sealskin cape to have something
beautiful to wear for Governor General Mary Simon as she attended
Rideau Hall to speak about Online Bullying.
- Sealskin red dress earrings with beads – something so close to
Vanessa’s heart. In honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Peoples.
- A picture that Vanessa made that hangs in her motorhome Rolling
Resilience. The background is black seal leather. The words Never
Forgotten are written in porcupine quills that she harvested. The face
is made out of deer antler and the coat ruff is made from silver fox.
There is moss on the ground and birch bark and twigs for the tree.
