Profile: Napatsi Folger
Photo courtesy of Napatsi Folger
Born in Iqaluit, NU, and raised in Iqaluit and North Vancouver, BC, Napatsi Folger is currently a second year MFA student in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. Previously, she received an Honours BA in English and History from the University of Toronto and went on to spend several years working in policy for the Government of Nunavut. Napatsi’s involvement with Inuit Futures in Arts Leadership: The Pilimmaksarniq / Pijariuqsarniq Project came about in late 2018 when she initially applied to a job posting from the Inuit Art Foundation. Since January 2019, she has worked as a Contributing Editor to Inuit Art Quarterly, a position made possible through the IAF’s partnership with The Inuit Futures in Arts Leadership Project. Napatsi has been able to work part time in a field relevant to her studies and gain practical experience and professional skills while she remains in school.
“The fact that I am able to work for IAQ because of the Inuit Futures Project has been amazing and I’ve learned a lot about magazine production,” she says, “but I think probably the most exciting part was the trip to the Venice Biennale.”
In May 2019, Napatsi was a part of a cohort involved in the Inuit Futures Summer Institute that took place in Venice during preview week at the 58th Venice Biennale, coinciding with Isuma Film Collective’s installation at the Canada Pavilion. From this experience, Napatsi compiled and guest-edited the first all-Inuit produced issue of the IAQ alongside fellow Inuit Futures ilinniaqtuk Emily Henderson. A digital version of the Venice Biennale Special Issue is freely available to download here. In October 2019, Napatsi reconnected with her Inuit Futures cohort at the Second Annual Gathering in Montreal. That weekend, Napatsi spoke on a panel at the 21st Inuit Studies Conference, hosted by UQAM, titled “Supporting Inuit Leadership in the Arts at the Inuit Art Foundation.”
“It’s been unbelievable, the opportunities that I’ve had because of this project, and it’s really enriched my school experience and I’ve been able to do things I wouldn’t normally have done because of the Inuit Futures initiative and programming. I’m really appreciative.”
Napatsi was a Contributing Editor to Inuit Art Quarterly’s Venice Biennale Special Issue in 2019.
Alysa Procida, Britt Gallpen, Napatsi Folger, Emily Henderson, and Heather Igloliorte on the “Supporting Inuit Leadership in the Arts at the Inuit Art Foundation” panel at the 21st Inuit Studies Conference, UQAM, Montreal QC. October 2019.