{{Lowercase title}} {{Short description|Inuk Canadian artist and filmmaker (b. 1991)}} {{Infobox artist | name = asinnajaq | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = Isabella Rose Rowan-Weetaluktuk | birth_date = {{Birth-date|1991}} | birth_place = Kuujjuaq, Nunavik | death_date = | death_place = | citizenship = Inukjuamiut and Canadian | education = Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design<ref name=iaf/> | field = visual artist, writer, filmmaker, and curator | movement = | works = | patrons = | awards = Sobey Award (2020) | spouse = | partner = | website = https://www.lichenolichen.ca/ }} '''asinnajaq''' (born 1991)<ref name="NGV">{{cite web |title=Asinnajaq, Three Thousand |url=https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/asinnajaq-three-thousand/ |website=National Gallery of Victoria |access-date=10 September 2021}}</ref> is a Canadian Inuk visual artist, writer, filmmaker, and curator,<ref name="iaf">{{cite web |title=asinnajaq |url=https://www.inuitartfoundation.org/lite/profiles/artist/Asinnajaq |website=Inuit Art Quarterly |publisher=Inuit Art Foundation |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref> from Inukjuak, Quebec.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/wag-names-curators-inuit-art-centre-1.4527338 "Winnipeg Art Gallery names 4 curators for Inuit Art Centre's 1st exhibitions"]. CBC News Manitoba, February 8, 2018.</ref> She is most noted for her 2017 film ''Three Thousand'', which received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Short Documentary Film at the 6th Canadian Screen Awards.<ref>"Natar Ungalaaq and Asinnajaq nominated for Canadian Screen Awards". ''Inuit Art Quarterly'', March 15, 2018.</ref> In 2025, a selection of her photographs were displayed at the National Gallery of Canada after she won the 2024 New Generation Photography Award.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=New Generation Photography Award |url=https://www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exhibitions-and-galleries/new-generation-photography-award-2024 |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=www.gallery.ca |language=en}}</ref>
She has also been active as a curator of Inuit art and video projects, including the Canadian pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Greenberger |first1=Alex |title=Isuma Will Represent Canada at the 2019 Venice Biennale |work=ARTnews |date=2017-12-13 |url=http://www.artnews.com/2017/12/13/isuma-will-represent-canada-2019-venice-biennale/ |language=en-US |accessdate=2019-05-27 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and the Inuit Art Centre at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.<ref>Lenard Monkman, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/wag-inuit-art-centre-ground-breaking-1.4678741 "Construction begins on Winnipeg Art Gallery's Inuit Art Centre"]. CBC News Indigenous, May 25, 2018.</ref>
== Early life and education == '''Isabella Rose Rowan-Weetaluktuk''' was born in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.lichenolichen.ca/about |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=asinnajaq |language=en-CA}}</ref> She completed Bachelor of Fine Arts at Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art in 2015, before completing an MFA film at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax.<ref name="iaf" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=NSCAD University |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Alumna asinnajaq uitaalutuq talks about how NSCAD influenced her filmmaking |url=https://nscad.ca/alumni-profile-asinnajaq-uitaalutuq/}}</ref>The name ''asinnajaq'' is a family name that means "nomadic outlier" in the local Inuktitut dialect. Her mother, Carol Rowan, is a university professor, while her father, Jobie Weetaluktuk, is a filmmaker.<ref name=iaf/> Early in her artistic career she assisted her father while he worked on ''Timuti'' (2012), a short film based in Inukjuak, the home of their extended family.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinemapolitica.org/artists/asinnajaq |title=Asinnajaq |website=cinema politica|language=en |access-date=4 April 2020}}</ref>
== Personal life == asinnajaq is currently based out of Montreal, Quebec.<ref name="iaf" /> She is the niece of Daniel Weetaluktuk, the first Inuk archeologist in Canada, who is the subject of her upcoming short film ''Daniel''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.historymuseum.ca/blog/daniel-weetaluktuk-a-community-archaeology-pioneer/|title=Daniel Weetaluktuk: A Community Archaeology Pioneer|website=Your Museum. Your Stories.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref>
== Career == Through her artistic work, asinnajaq draws her inspiration from the notion of respect for human rights, and the desire to explore her Inuit heritage. Her practice is grounded in research and collaboration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dazibao.art/session-isabella-weetaluktuk|title=Session: Isabella Weetaluktuk|website=Dazibao|language=fr-CA|access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref> Her short film ''Upinnaqusittik'', made in 2016, premiered at iNuit Blanche, the first ever circumpolar arts festival in St. John's.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.onf.ca/cineastes/asinnajaq/|title=Films de l'ONF réalisés par Asinnajaq |last=Canada|first=Office national du film du|website=Office national du film du Canada|language=fr|access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref> She directed her award-winning short film ''Three Thousand'' in 2017 while working for the National Film Board and drew on their archival film collection for portions of the film's contents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/indigenous-film-concordia-1.4507741|title=Montreal film screening aims to emphasize Indigenous politics, perspectives|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128180809/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/indigenous-film-concordia-1.4507741 |archive-date=2018-01-28 |access-date=}}</ref>
=== Curatorial practice === Alongside her artistic work, asinnajaq has led multiple Inuit culture workshops at the McCord Museum<ref>{{Citation|publisher=Canada National Film Board of |title=Three Thousand|url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/three-thousand/ |language=en |access-date=4 April 2020}}</ref> with her mother Carol Rowan.<ref name="iaf" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10044994|title=Animaatiot pärjäsivät alkuperäiskansojen elokuvafestivaalilla – Skábmagovat-palkinnot jaettiin ensimmäistä kertaa|website=Yle Uutiset|date=27 January 2018 |language=fi|access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref> In 2018, she co-created ᑎᓪᓕᑕᕐᓃᑦ ''Tilliraniit'' a three-day film festival celebrating Inuit art presented at FOFA Gallery in Montréal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=asinnajaq |url=https://mediacityfilmfestival.com/thousandsuns/asinnajaq/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=Media City Film Festival |language=en-US}}</ref> She was part of the curatorial teams for the Canadian Pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennale and joined group of other female curators during the opening of the Inuit Art Centre, Qaumajuq, at Winnipeg Art Gallery in 2020.<ref name="iaf" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Nesbitt |first=Sarah |date=March 4, 2019 |title=On the psychology of memory, memes, and knowing who you are: in conversation with Asinnajaq |url=https://thisispublicparking.com/posts/on-the-psychology-of-memory-memes-and-knowing-who-you-are-in-conversation-with-asinnajaq |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=Public Parking}}</ref>
In 2020 asinnajaq received a Sobey Art Award for the entire body of her artistic work.<ref name="Nunatsiaq News">{{cite web |title=Inuk artist Asinnajaq wins a 2020 Sobey Art Award |url=https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/inuk-artist-asinnajaq-wins-2020-sobey-art-award/ |website=Nunatsiaq News |access-date=11 September 2021 |language=en |date=16 April 2020}}</ref>
In 2024, she became the guest curator for the exhibition ''ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᒃ uummaqutik: essence of life'' at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, presenting selections from the museum's collection of Inuit art.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |author1=Montreal Museum of Fine Arts |title=ᐅᒻ ᒪᖁᑎᒃ uummaqutik: essence of life [press kit]. |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W1dWLedm1dSRcqQgol-xLzCOCTm7OcRn/view |website=Google Docs |access-date=8 November 2024}}</ref> That same year, she won the 2024 New Generation Photography Award and had her photographic work displayed in the National Gallery of Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bimal |first=Nehaa |date=March 3, 2025 |title=Award-winning Nunavik artist explores connection to land |url=https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/award-winning-nunavik-artist-explores-connection-to-land/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=Nunatsiaq News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" />
=== Residencies ===
* daphne art center (2022)<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Past Exhibitions |url=https://daphne.art/Past-Exhibitions |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=daphne art center |language=en}}</ref>
=== Exhibitions ===
==== Curated exhibits ====
* ''ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᒃ uummaqutik: essence of life,'' Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada, 8 November (2024)<ref name=":3" /> * ''With the Seasons ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᑦᔨᑕᕐᓂᖓᑕ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ'', Visual Arts Centre, Westmount, Canada, 6 - 28 May (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=With the Seasons ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᑦᔨᑕᕐᓂᖓᑕ ᐃᓗᐊᓂ |url=https://visualartscentre.ca/exhibit/with-the-seasons-asinnajaq-curator/ |website=Visual Arts Centre}}</ref> * ''INUA'', Winnipeg Art Gallery, Qaumajuq, Winnipeg, Canada, Mar 26, 2021 - Feb 12, 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=INUA » WAG |url=https://www.wag.ca/exhibitions/inua/ |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=WAG |language=en-CA}}</ref>
==== Solo exhibits ====
* ''ivaluit / sinews / tendons,'' daphne art centre, Montreal, Canada, March 9 – April 16 (2022) - curator<ref name=":5" />
==== Group exhibits ==== * ''The Structure of Smoke'', Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada (2026)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Structure of Smoke |url=https://preview-art.com/event/the-structure-of-smoke/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=Preview Art Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> * 2024 New Generation Photography Award, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 14 February - 1 June (2025)<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=New Generation Photography Award |url=https://www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exhibitions-and-galleries/new-generation-photography-award-2024 |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=National Art Gallery of Canada |language=en}}</ref> * ''femmes volcans forêts torrents'', Museum of Contemporary Art, Montreal, Canada, 11 April - 18 August (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=femmes volcans forêts torrents |url=https://macm.org/en/exhibitions/femmes-volcans-forets-torrents/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=MAC Montréal |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''Indian Theater: Native Performance, Art, and Self-Determination since 1969,'' Hessel Museum of Art, New York, USA, 24 June – 26 November (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Theater: Native Performance, Art, and Self-Determination since 1969 |url=https://ccs.bard.edu/museum/exhibitions/719-indian-theater |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=CCS Bard |language=en}}</ref> * ''We Are Story: The Canada Now Photography Acquisition'', Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada, January 28 - July 23 (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=We Are Story: The Canada Now Photography Acquisition |url=https://ago.ca/exhibitions/we-are-story-canada-now-photography-acquisition |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=Art Gallery of Ontario |language=en}}</ref> * ''ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒧᑦ / Ruovttu Guvlui / Towards Home'', Canadian Center for Architecture, Montreal, Quebec, 1 June (2022) to 26 March (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=nuna & qulliq |url=https://www.lichenolichen.ca/nuna-qulliq |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=asinnajaq |language=en-CA}}</ref> * ''Réclamer la terre,'' Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France, 15 April - 4 September (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Réclamer la terre |url=https://palaisdetokyo.com/exposition/reclamer-la-terre/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=Palais de Tokyo |language=fr-FR}}</ref> * ''One if by Land, Two if by Sea'', Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark, 23 March - 7 August (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Red Order Presents: One if by Land, Two if by Sea |url=https://artmatter.dk/artguide/calendar/new-red-order-presents-one-if-by-land-two-if-by-sea |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=Art Matter}}</ref> * ''When Veins Meet Like Rivers; ᑲᑎᓐᓂᖅ / okhížata / maadawaan,'' Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, Winnipeg, Canada, ''21'' August - 17 December (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Mariana Muñoz |date=2021-08-26 |title=When Veins Meet Like Rivers; ᑲᑎᓐᓂᖅ / okhížata / maadawaan at Plug In ICA, Winnipeg |url=https://akimbo.ca/akimblog/when-veins-meet-like-rivers-at-plug-in-ica-winnipeg/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=Akimbo Art |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''The Wildflower'', Hafnarborg, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland 29 August - 8 November (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |title=where you go i follow |url=https://www.lichenolichen.ca/where-you-go-i-follow |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=asinnajaq |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wildflower {{!}} Hafnarborg |url=https://hafnarborg.is/en/exhibition/the-wildflower/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=hafnarborg.is}}</ref> * ''Holding on to Universes'', Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow, Scotland, 7 February - 22 March (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tranter |first=Emma |title=Exhibit by Kinngait artist Shuvinai Ashoona to open in Glasgow next month |url=https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/exhibit-by-kinngait-artist-shuvanai-ashoona-to-open-in-glasgow-next-month/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=Nunatsiaq News |language=en}}</ref> * ''Of Myths and Mountains'', The Rooms, St. John's, Canada, 25 January - 12 April (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Of Myths and Mountains |url=https://visualartsnews.ca/exhibitions/of-myths-and-mountains/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=Visual Arts News |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''May the Land Remember You As You Walk Upon Its Surface'', Manitoba Craft Council, Winnipeg, Canada, 10 January - 29 February (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Craig |first=Katrina |date=2020-01-04 |title=May the Land Remember You As You Walk Upon Its Surface |url=https://c2centreforcraft.ca/2020/01/04/may-the-land-remember-you-as-you-walk-upon-its-surface/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=C2 Centre for Craft |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''ᐊᕙᑖᓂᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂᑦ Among All these Tundras'', Leonard & Bina Ellen Gallery, Winnipeg, Canada, September 18 - December 7 (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |title=ᐊᕙᑖᓂᑦ ᑕᒪᐃᓐᓂᑦ ᓄᓇᑐᐃᓐᓇᓂᑦ / Among All These Tundras {{!}} OCAD University |url=https://www.ocadu.ca/events-and-exhibitions/among-all-these-tundras |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=www.ocadu.ca |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> * ''Kaporangi Kiriata: CineMarae'', The Arts House Trust, Auckland, New Zealand, 26 June – 22 July (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-26 |title=Kaporangi Kiriata: CineMarae |url=https://www.artshousetrust.co.nz/exhibitions/kaporangi-kiriata-cinemarae |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=The Arts House Trust |language=en-NZ}}</ref> * ''INSURGENCE/RESURGENCE'', Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Canada, 22 September (2017) - 18 April (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |title=INSURGENCE/RESURGENCE |url=https://www.wag.ca/exhibitions/insurgence-resurgence/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=Winnipeg Art Gallery |language=en-CA}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
=== Short film === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Director !Writer !Assistant Director |- |2012 |''Timuti''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=National Film Board of |title=Timuti |url=https://www.nfb.ca/film/timuti_en/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=National Film Board of Canada |language=en}}</ref> |No |No |Yes |- |2015 |''Rowan''<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://vimeo.com/124864360 |title=Rowan (Official Trailer) |language=en |access-date=2026-03-05 |via=vimeo.com}}</ref> |No |Yes |No |- |2015 |''Salt Stains'' |No |No |Yes |- |2016 |''Upinnaqusittik (Lucky)'' <ref name=":1" /> |Yes |Yes |No |- |2017 |''Three Thousand'' |Yes |Yes |No |- |In production |''Daniel <ref name=":0" />'' |Yes |Yes |No |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Episode(s) |- |2020-2023 |Amplify |Director |Directed 2 episodes<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asinnajaq {{!}} Additional Crew, Director, Actress |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13469186/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> |}
=== Other work ===
==== Acting roles ==== {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2013 |''Our Ottawa'' |Self |Short local TV series |- |2015 |''Rowan'' |Rowan (main role) |Thesis film from NSCAD |- |2024 |''Universal Language'' |Knitter | |}
==== Mentorship and cultural consultation ==== {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role(s) !Notes |- |2017 |''Shaman'' |Cultural script consultant, mentor, trainer |Short film |- |2021 |''Evan's Drum'' |Mentor |Short film |- |2021 |''Nalujuk Night'' |Mentor |Short film |- |2023 |''Hebron Relocation'' |Mentor |Short film |- |2023 |''Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher'' |Mentor |Short film |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Nominated Work(s) !Award !Won !Festival/Institution !Location |- |2025 |All works |Pierre-Ayot Award<ref>{{Cite web |title=Montréal and AGAC announce 2025 Pierre-Ayot and Louis-Comtois winners |url=https://www.agac.ca/en/news/montreal-and-agac-announce-2025-pierre-ayot-and-louis-comtois-winners/ |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=Association des galeries d’art contemporain |language=en-US}}</ref> |Yes |Contemporary Art Galleries Association (AGAC), Ville de Montréal |Canada |- |2024 |Photography series |2024 New Generation Photography Award <ref name=":6" /> |Yes |National Gallery of Canada |Canada |- |2020 |All works |Sobey Art Award <ref name="Nunatsiaq News" /> |Yes |The Sobey Art Foundation |Canada |- |2019 |''Three Thousand'' |"Ô Canada — Québec, Premières Nations, etc." Program<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.film-documentaire.fr/4DACTION/w_fiche_film/53647_1|title=film-documentaire.fr - Portail du film documentaire|website=www.film-documentaire.fr|access-date=2020-04-05}}</ref> |Yes |Festival international du court métrage |France |- |2018 |''Three Thousand'' |Best Short Documentary<ref>{{Cite web |title=2018 Film Nominees |url=https://www.academy.ca/category/2018-film-nominees/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=Academy.ca |language=en-US}}</ref> |No |Canadian Screen Awards |Canada |- |2018 |''Three Thousand'' |Best Indigenous Short Film Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/reflections/three-thousand-1.4950754|title=Three Thousand|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219025823/https://www.cbc.ca/reflections/three-thousand-1.4950754 |archive-date=2018-12-19 |access-date=}}</ref> |Yes |Skábmagovat Film Festival |Finland |- |2018 |''Three Thousand'' |International Indigenous Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfb.ca/distribution/film/three-thousand|title=National Film Board of Canada|last=Canada|first=National Film Board of|website=National Film Board of Canada|language=en|access-date=2020-04-05}}</ref> |Yes |Wairoa Maori Film Festival |New Zealand-Aotearoa |- |2017 |''Three Thousand'' |Imagine Native Film and Kent Monkman Award for Best Exposition<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vimooz.com/2017/10/22/2017-imaginenative-film-media-arts-festival-awards/|title=2017 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Awards - SWEET COUNTRY Wins Best Dramatic Feature|date=2017-10-23|website=VIMOOZ|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-05}}</ref> <br /> |Yes |Media Arts Festival |Canada |- |2017 |All works |REVEAL Indigenous Art Award<ref name="iaf" /> |Yes |The Hnatyshyn Foundation |Canada |}
== External links ==
* [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13469186/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk Asinnajak's profile] on IMDb * [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7095880/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk Isabella-Rose Weetaluktuk profile] on IMDb * [https://www.lichenolichen.ca/ Artist's website]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Canadian artists Category:21st-century Canadian women artists Category:21st-century Inuit artists Category:21st-century Inuit women Category:Canadian women film directors Category:Canadian art curators Category:Canadian Inuit women Category:Inuit filmmakers Category:Artists from Quebec Category:Film directors from Quebec Category:Inuit from Quebec Category:Canadian contemporary artists Category:Canadian women curators