Toronto Chapter seminar/webinar: Mobilizing Inuit Cultural Heritage – a multi-media/multi-platform re-engagement of voice in visual art and performance

Event Details

Tuesday  April 5, 2016 from 4-6 pm
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Room 7-105
252 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1V6 (at St. George TTC)

Presentation

Download the presentation slides (PDF, 8.7 MB).

Topic

Mobilizing Inuit Cultural Heritage: a multi-media/multi-platform re-engagement of voice in visual art and performance (MICH)

MICH is a six-year SSHRC Partnership Grant held at York University that focuses on the contribution of Inuit visual culture, art, and performance to Inuit language preservation, social well-being, and cultural identity. Bringing together Inuit and non-Inuit researchers, artists and stakeholders, MICH currently supports research, creation, and curatorial activities related to sculpture, gaming, storytelling, music, craftwork, prints, performance, digital connectivity, archival work, database compilation, and audiovisual knowledge preservation. All activities are undertaken with the intention of improving and/or advancing: 1) Access for Northern communities to digital information and communication technologies, 2) Connection of Inuit voice to objects of cultural heritage, and 3) Creation of Inuit-centric cultural capacity.

Katujjiqatigiingniq –“collaborating together” – as Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants and partners inspires our Knowledge Mobilization vision. This vision guides the two primary KmB strategies of the grant: social media and gaming. Anna Hudson and Ali Hirji will present social media and gaming projects developed by the MICH research team and assess what measures of success need to be employed from an Indigenous perspective.

About the Presenters

HudsonAnna Hudson, Principal Investigator – MICH
Tier 2 York Research Chair / Associate Professor
Department of Visual Art and Art History
School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design
York University

Anna Hudson is an art historian, curator, writer and educator specializing in Canadian and Indigenous art and visual culture. Formerly associate curator of Canadian Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario, she brings to her teaching extensive hands-on experience in institutional curatorial practice.

Dr. Hudson is currently leading a major Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Partnership Grant project titled Mobilizing Inuit Cultural Heritage: a multi-media/multi-platform re-engagement of voice in visual art and performance” with 10 researchers – including Professor Susan Dion in the Faculty of Education and Professor Angela Norwood from the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design at York University – and nine partner organizations.

HirjiAli Hirji, MICH Knowledge Mobilization and Communications Research Lead
MA Psychology, York University

Ali works for the ORION Network, amongst several other interesting projects in Dubai and Toronto.  His interest has always been in the evolution of broadband infrastructure and related investments : “My core focus at MICH is to understand how technology and broadband can be rolled out into remote communities. I am keen on understanding what has already been done in the community and want to inquire into the current gaps – perhaps my research can assist with the necessary partnerships required to address the gaps and can realize a sustainable framework for progress.”