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Agnes Nanogak Goose, graphic artist, illustrator (born 12 November 1925 on Baillie Island, NT; died in 2001). Agnes Nanogak Goose was a prominent Inuit graphic artist who published through the Holman Eskimo Co-operative (now Ulukahaktok Arts Centre). She created prints that represented Inuit traditional stories, and some of her prints were used in illustrating books (see also Inuit Art; Inuit Printmaking).
Early Life
Agnes Nanogak Goose was the daughter of William Natkutsiak (Billy Banksland) and Ikiunak (also known as Topsy). Her mother was an Inuvialuit woman, and her father moved to the Canadian Arctic from Alaska with explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson. Nanogak Goose moved to Holman (now Ulukhaktok) permanently in the late 1930s. After moving there, she married Wallace Goose and raised a large family.
Artistic Career
While in Holman (now Ulukhaktok), Agnes Nanogak Goose started her artistic career. Starting in 1966, she contributed to print collections published by the Holman artists’ co-operative. Throughout her career, she continued to contribute to these print collections, resulting in her being one of the most prominent artists from the community (see also Inuit Printmaking). Ultimately, she contributed to every collection released by the Holman artists’ co-operative from 1966 until the 1990s.
Nanogak Goose created energetic and colourful depictions of Inuit traditional stories. She also created larger works, including Mural in 1971–72. Her narrative prints and drawings evoked a rich variety of stories reflecting the Alaskan roots of her father and the Inuvialuit and Inuinnait (Copper Inuit) cultures of her mother.
In 1992, in recognition of 125 years of Canada’s existence, Nanogak Goose’s artwork was included in an art collection that was used for commemorative stamps by Canada Post. The art collection also toured six museum in Canada as a travelling art exhibit.
Illustrations and Books
Agnes Nanogak Goose illustrated two books of Inuit traditional stories, Tales from the Igloo, edited and translated by Maurice Metayer, and More Tales from the Igloo, which she also wrote. Additionally, her work was used to accompany other written stories, including “Tauvijjuaq: The Great Darkness” by John MacDonald in 1993. In addition to illustrating books, her work was included in a short animation about an Inuit traditional story.
Recognition
In 1985, Agnes Nanogak Goose received an honorary doctor of humane letters from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her work has been included in numerous exhibitions around the world. Additionally, the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas hold major collections of her work.
