Published 8:43 am Thursday, September 24, 2026 By William Koblensky Varela Local Journalism Initiative Northern News Service At the back of the Arctic Winter Games Arena in Iqaluit during the Nunavut Trade Show, there were two rows of tables reserved for Nunavummiut artists and crafts people. One booth was occupied by Mona Netser from Coral Harbour, who was selling mitts and hats made out of beaver skins, fox fur and seal skin. She also had de-haired polar bear skin. “Some of them I buy, some of them I prepare myself. I have boys that hunt,” Netser said. She has been sewing since she was 12 years old, though she joked that she started as a newborn. She comes from a long line of women who have made the same style of warm outerwear. “My mom was a seamstress, and my grandma,” Netser said. Though not on sale at the trade show, Nester has also made dolls that are showcased at the Rankin Inlet Airport and Iqaluit’s Aqsarniit Hotel. Seated in an adjacent row was Andrew Qappik, from Pangnirtung, who paints traditional scenes. He uses oil-based paint, a pen and stencils that he makes to create his art. “I’m just depicting what natural surroundings are up in the North, and something to do with my tradition,” he said. Qappik taught himself how to draw and paint when he was 14 years old. Since then, he’s gone on to design Nunavut’s coat of arms as well as a commemorative loonie and two 25 cent pieces for the Royal Canadian Mint.
Artists at Nunavut Trade Show bring tradition to the marketplace
