Agnes Nanogak facts for kids

Agnes Nanogak Goose (born November 12, 1925 – died May 5, 2001) was a famous Inuk artist. She came from Holman, which is now called Ulukhaktok, in the Northwest Territories, Canada. She was known for her amazing prints and drawings.

Her Life Story

Agnes Nanogak was born on Baillie Island, Northwest Territories, in 1925. Her father, Natkutsiak (also known as Billy Banksland), was from Nome, Alaska. He worked as a harpooner on whaling boats. He even sailed with the explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson.

Agnes's father was a great storyteller. He taught her to love old legends and the tradition of sharing stories. Her mother, Topsy Ekiona, was from the Mackenzie Delta area.

Her parents married and traveled between Baillie Island and Banks Island. They found good opportunities for trapping and trading there. Agnes and her brother, Alec Aliknak Banksland, were born on Baillie Island.

When Agnes was nine, in 1934, her family moved to Holman. This community is on Victoria Island. At that time, they were the only family living in Holman.

In 1943, Agnes married Wallace Goose. He was from the Tuktoyaktuk and Kugluktuk areas. They had seven children together.

In 1985, Agnes Nanogak received a special award. She got an honorary degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. She was the very first Inuit artist to receive such a degree from a university.

In 2000, Agnes was diagnosed with an illness. She felt it was even more important to keep working. She wanted to "help people remember the stories" through her art. Agnes passed away in Holman in 2001.

After she died, the Winnipeg Art Gallery held a special show of her art in 2002. Her work has been shown in many exhibitions. These shows took place across Canada, the United States, and Europe. Her art can be found in at least fifteen museums and galleries.

Her Art Career

Agnes's father encouraged her to draw from a young age. She was part of the first group of artists to draw for Holman's printmaking program. This program started in the 1960s.

Her first drawings were made with pencils. But in 1970, she started using colorful felt-tip pens. Her art is known for being smooth and bold. It has a lot of "nervous energy."

Her early artworks showed themes of childhood and Inuit life. Many of these drawings were later made into prints. By the end of her career, she had created about 140 images for print collections. She contributed to every print collection from the Holman artists' co-operative since 1967.

Agnes Nanogak is very famous for illustrating children's books. She drew the pictures for Tales from the Igloo (1972) and More Tales from the Igloo (1986). These books share Inuit legends translated into English.

Her stories and drawings show her family's background. Her father was from Alaska, and her mother and husband were from the Mackenzie Delta and Copper Inuit cultures. Her son, Billy Goose, and grandson, Rex Goose, are also talented graphic artists.

List of Works

• Metayer, Maurice & Nanogak, Agnes (ill.). Tales From the Igloo. Edmonton, Alberta: Hurtig, 1972.
• Nanogak, Agnes. More Tales From the Igloo. Edmonton, Alberta: Hurtig, 1986.