Family Sunday: Arctic Tales

Celebrate the richness of Inuit cultures through art, storytelling, and live performance at this special Family Sunday inspired by the Inuit works featured in Early Days.

Through hands-on making, music, and stories, visitors of all ages are invited to explore the traditions, knowledge, and creative practices of Inuit communities.

Inspired by the Inuit practice of stretching sealskin to dry on wooden racks, create your own stretched canvas artwork under the guidance of the artist and gallery instructors. This workshop was developed by Angela Aula, a painter and makeup artist born and raised in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Angela Aula

An Inuit painter, muralist, makeup artist, and cultural educator from Iqaluit, Nunavut. Now based in Toronto, Angela creates bold and expressive work that blends traditional Inuit imagery with contemporary storytelling. She began painting in 2010, drawing inspiration from landscapes, animals, and Inuit legends, and her practice has since expanded to include large-scale public murals across Toronto.

Discover stories from Inuit communities through a guided exploration of artworks on view at the McMichael. This guided art viewing activity will also introduce various art materials and artmaking techniques used by these artists.

Enjoy a guided walk through the McMichael grounds as you explore outdoor artworks and the plants and wildlife of the Humber River Valley. Visit the historic Tom Thomson Shack and Artists’ Cemetery, and learn how the Gallery’s relationship with art and the natural landscape continues to evolve.

Join the storytelling circle with Sheepa Papatsie from Pangnirtung on Baffin Island who will share her childhood memories and keepsakes, and introduce some Inuit games that she used to played with her friends in the Arctic.