When Mataya Gillis was handed a blank slate during the Inuvialuit Living History project in Ivvavik National Park last August, she wasn't sure exactly where to put the resources, but being teamed up with Cassidy Lennie-Ipana the idea to launch Nipaturuq magazine developed organically.
"We went into the camp knowing that we had to do a project, and we were able to brain storm with Jason Lau before we left to see what we could do," said Gillis. "Cassidy was really interested in interviewing people and I was very indecisive of what I wanted to do because they gave us the freedom and resources to do anything, then I thought that I can include everything that I’m interested in and create a magazine, so me and Cass worked together and she did interviews and I started with the photography and design.
"It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be mostly because Jason really helped us and it was easier to find the people to interview because they were all at the camp with us."
Seven months and a trip to Montreal later, the first edition of Nipaturuq, which is Uummarmiutun for 'To Have a Loud Voice.' Focusing on what it means to be Inuvialuit, the edition launched February 25 and was distributed internationally through Tusaayaksat magazine.
Aiming for four editions in a year, Gillis said the next edition was sent to the printers and should be available next month. This time around, the duo explore climate change and how it is affecting the north and expand the scope of their interviews.
"For this issue we were able to get more community’s involved which was great," she said. "We have people form Ulukhaktok, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik. I get to talk to so many people and learn so much and it’s a lot of fun designing the magazine and getting to know the software, I'm loving it."
As for the next issue, Gillis said there has been some brainstorming as to what the theme will be, though her interests are diverse enough that the sky's the limit.
"There so much that we can talk about and do much that we can learn," she said. "I love to talk to people so that’s a reward itself.
"Thanks to everyone who volunteers their time to contribute to Nipaturuq."