Not Our Ancestor’s Wealth

Not Our Ancestor’s Wealth

Artist Name: Annie Pillaktuaq

Medium: Mixed media and acrylic on canvas

Dimensions: 36” x 48” x 1.5”

Unframed

In Not Our Ancestor’s Wealth, Pillaktuaq defines what she considers wealth versus what capitalism expects us to believe is wealth. Society is fed that “wealth” comes in the form of money and natural resources, specifically, she shows diamonds, silver, and gold, reflecting mines located in Nunavut. For Pillaktuaq, knowledge, strong relationships, and community are also wealth.  Pillaktuaq positions the ancestors, as represented by the blue wing, showering us in knowledge and morals (shown as gold droplets). Below she shows us different faces of people representing the Inuit, members of her community, symbolizing the rich relationships that only a shared tradition and history can cultivate; alongside horns of colour on the left as a symbol of diversity and connections to all communities.