Where Are They Now: Kajola Morewood

Last month we had the chance to catch up with Kajola Morewood to see what she has been up to:

​​Illinaqtuit Kajola Morewood completed her Master of Library and Information Studies degree at UBC in 2021. Following her graduation, she took on the role of Indigenous Initiatives and Services Librarian at Okanagan College in Kelowna. Before pursuing her master's, Kajola had completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Emily Carr University of Art and Design which subsequently led to her working at the University, mostly within Student Services. In 2022, when her dream job became available at Emily Carr’s Aboriginal Gathering Place, she seized the opportunity.

The director at the time, Brenda Crabtree, was very supportive of Kajola and encouraged her to form connections with other Inuit by facilitating her attendance at gatherings such as Inuit Studies Conferences, Inuit art symposiums, and the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik.

Now under the direction of Daina Warren, Kajola is the Aboriginal Programs Manager at Emily Carr University. Her role focuses on creating a supportive and welcoming environment for Indigenous students at the Aboriginal Gathering Place. Here, students find a bit of home away from home, with workshops on traditional crafts like caribou hair tufting, beading, fish skin tanning, and deer hide tanning. The Gathering Place boasts an inventory of natural materials that students can access whenever needed.

The Gathering Place supports 70-80 Indigenous students and organizes various programs, including artist talks and an annual student exhibition. This year's exhibition, "Frybread as Fok", featured 30 artists, including current students, alumni, staff, and faculty. The event also included the creation of an exhibition catalogue showcasing the artists' works, biographies, and headshots. Additionally, the Gathering Place hosts bi-annual art markets where students can sell their creations.

Photo by Perrin Grauer of Kajola Morewood.

Participants in the Aboriginal Gathering Place’s Urban Access program make elk hide drums.

Aside from her professional responsibilities, Kajola is an avid artist, currently working in caribou hair tufting. Her latest project involves filling and overflowing an ornate vintage picture frame with caribou tufted pom-pom-like clusters, symbolizing the expansion of Indigenous art beyond traditional boundaries. Kajola learned how to tuft at a workshop at the Aboriginal Gathering Place. Her long-term goal is to co-organize an exhibition titled "Seal Meets Buffalo" with Métis artist, Nevada Lynn, and they are currently scouting for galleries to present their idea.

Kajola also reflected on an Inuit Futures project from 2020 where she assisted Lindsay McIntyre with the production of Ajjigiingiluktaaqtugut, a 17-minute animated short film exhibited in INUA at WAG Qaumajuq in 2021. This project allowed Kajola to gain valuable skills in animation, a field she had considered exploring when she first applied to Emily Carr. She cherished the hands-on aspects of the project, such as harvesting plants in Stanley Park for the film's scenes and creating moving lines by scratching emulsion on images. The film's theme of Inuit identity resonated deeply with Kajola's personal experiences. 

Her connection to Lindsay McIntyre continues, as Kajola is currently planning a one-day Inuit Film Festival on November 1st 2024, ahead of International Inuit Day on November 7th. The festival will feature 3-4 short films, including one by McIntyre, and one longer feature, aiming to bring the Inuit community together in Vancouver.

Indigenous students assist with the installation of Charlene Vickers’ work in the Your Old Way Kind of Vision exhibition in the Libby Leshgold Gallery, curated by Daina Warren.