Shifting perspectives with Inuk creator, Nooks Lindell

Since Nooks was young, he naturally turned to art in his most difficult days. Today, art continues to help him express himself when words fail. It brings him closer to family and friends, like three-hour chats over a pot of tea with Uncle Joe, discussing the perfect ulu. Art has also helped him cope during dark times, like the loss of his father, and his struggle with alcohol addiction. Nooks entire family played an important and lifesaving role in guiding him along his journey. “Without family, I don’t think I would have made it on my own, because I didn’t care enough about myself”. Nine years sober, he thanks his close-knit family and his art.

 “Art is so helpful. What it can do for you, what it can do for your family, and for your culture. It can impact so many different areas in your life.”  - Nook Lindell

Nooks showing his winning artwork to his Anaanatsiaq (Grandmother) Akpaliapik and his son Nipi

For Nooks, art serves as a tool to reimagine a world around him filled with hope and purpose - like that cool October day a few years back, with no mosquitoes, but plenty of fat tuktu (caribou). Nooks felt pure joy when he caught one, it was the perfect beginning. But the perfect ending to this hunting trip only exists in his artwork.

The trip took an unexpected turn when several of the hunting party’s four-wheeler got stuck while trying to cross a river. Instead of a quick trip home, they hunkered down for the night and kept morale high with laughter. The winning artwork, “Wheeling”, reimagines the end of the adventure with a successful river crossing, complete with a siksik and all.

“Wheeling” - 14.5” x 21.5” digital illustration 

The drawing bursts with colour and is enveloped with intricate details that celebrate the essence of Inuit craftsmanship. Nooks draws wooden racks holding gear, parkas crafted from the hands of expert seamstresses like his anaanatsiaq (grandmother) and ananna (mother), and even a tuktu mount on the front of the ATV. He takes pride in seeing tradition meld seamlessly with modernity, remarking on the beauty of Inuit fashion, music, and innovation. 

He celebrates how Inuit are “changing the narrative and leading the way through art,” and sees contemporary Inuit art as a blend of tradition with “an edge to it”. His identity is deeply connected to the land, which “Wheeling” brilliantly captures.

Nooks in his Arviat workshop sanding a Qaurutik (head piece)

Nooks is thrilled that his drawing bypasses where one might find traditional art and heads right onto useful, functional objects like a phonebook.

With excitement he boasts, “This is going to be in everyone’s home!”

Find more of Nook’s art on Facebook and at @hinaani.design on Instagram

For 45 years, Northwestel has published rich northern art on the covers of our directories. The land we live in inspires all of us in different ways. From touching family traditions to realistic recreations of arctic landscapes, we admire and celebrate the creativity of those who make up our North.  

As the winner of the directory art contest, Nooks Lindell receives a $5,000 prize from Northwestel.  

Meet our 2024 Directory Art Winners:

The artist's spark: ignited by Arctic shorelines

Think about submitting your artwork for next year's directory art competition? Visit our Directory art page and keep an eye out for the 2025 contest, opening in September. 

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 Emma Kreuger, Hinaani Design