Inuvik Satellite Station Antenna Art Highlights Indigenous Life and Culture

June 21, 2019          Inuvik, Northwest Territories               Natural Resources Canada

Public art projects help convey important messages about the history, culture and diversity of a region.

Today, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) unveiled its Antenna as Canvas project in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, which visually celebrates the vibrant cultures of the peoples of the Beaufort Delta area.

All five satellite receivers located at NRCan’s Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF) are now decorated with artwork created by local Indigenous artists. Three of the receiver art installations were completed in August 2018, and with the successful installation of the final two pieces this June, we are celebrating the completion of the Antenna as Canvas project on National Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Ronnie Simon, Sheree McLeod, Ron English, Anick Jenks and the East Three Secondary School Art Club are the creative artists behind this project, and were selected by their respective organizations and project partners: the Gwich’in Tribal Council, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Inuvik Métis Council and the Town of Inuvik.

The Antenna as Canvas project can be seen by people across the globe. In addition to NRCan’s antenna, the ISSF hosts antennas from the German Space Agency (DLR), the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), the French Space Agency (CNES) and Canada’s C-CORE, making this a remarkable international collaboration that honours and promotes learning about Inuvik peoples’ cultures, languages and contributions to Canada’s history abroad.

In Canada, the artwork provides a vibrant Indigenous and northern visual presence at a Government of Canada facility that is visible from the Dempster Highway, the road into Inuvik, as well as from both runways as airplanes enter the Inuvik Airport.

The striking images on the antennas promote Inuvik as a global destination for Earth observation, business and tourism.

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Quotes

“The Government of Canada is proud to be part of this beautiful initiative that celebrates Canada’s diversity and inspires Canadians to honour and explore their communities and their country while learning about earth observation.”

Amarjeet Sohi
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources

Associated links

• Natural Resources Canada Satellite Receiving Stations
• National Centre for Space Studies (Centre national d’etudes spatiales)
• C-CORE
• DLR (German Space Agency)
• Swedish Space Corporation

Contacts

Natural Resources Canada
Media Relations
343-292-6100
NRCan.media_relations-media_relations.RNCan@canada.ca

Vanessa Adams
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Natural Resources
343-543-7645
Vanessa.Adams@canada.ca

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