HOLDING ON AND FIGHTING FOR SPACE
An Interview with Aedan - April 2021
Aedan is an Inuk artist and writer based in Ottawa. From small-town Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Aeden says of their poetry that it is, “speaking to my upbringing and experiences connecting to my culture.”
Aedan’s written word seems to possess the extraordinary capacity for transporting both reader and writer in time, place, and feeling. Inuujunga, their first published work was inspired by “memories of home that I just wanted to get down somehow. A lot of what I write can be traced back to experiences I’ve had. As a very sentimental person, I think it’s my way of holding onto memories that I don’t want to forget, or that I feel are important to remember.”
Weaving through the heavy threads of mortality and family attachment in Aeden’s poems, I wonder if there is an element of therapeutic deliberation. “It’s funny because sometimes my writing is a method of self-care— a safe space to explore my feelings and express them. Other times I finish writing something a little heavier theme-wise, and at that point, I just need to take a break for a bit. Usually, in these situations, I lean more on my support systems, try to get outside, and remember that writing doesn’t have to be an isolating endeavor.”
Aedan’s drawings keep the poems company on the page, extensions of the artist’s gift for rendering specific but subtle feels.
This interdisciplinary win led me to find even greater curiosity in Aedan’s work in the medium of tattoo. “I began stick and poke tattooing because I knew the importance of receiving Inuit tattoos (kakiniit), having received some of mine prior to learning how to tattoo. When christianity was forcibly introduced to Inuit, a lot of our cultural practices, such as tattooing, became banned. There has since been a revival of our tattooing traditions, and it felt important for me on a personal level to do my part in this. I do tattoos unrelated to Inuit culture as well, but my primary focus is giving Inuit their markings.”
Aedan’s endearing tenderness speaks of their Inuit culture**, but also the families and communities who endure settler violence today. The issues of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Sprit (MMIWG2S) and mental health are of particular importance to Aedan. “We face higher rates of suicide, yet have less accessibility to potentially life-saving mental health services, and moreover less access to culturally relevant and appropriate mental health services. As someone who has struggled with mental illness for the majority of my life, this is a topic that hits very close to home.”
Of politics in their new book, Aedan says they view the act of an Indigenous person writing as a political action.
“Our voices were silenced for so long. There were attempts to take our languages, our stories. Even today we have to continue to fight for the space to exist. Sharing our stories, although not inherently political in nature, is an act of resistance against colonial powers.”
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AA - written by Derek Atkinson
Artwork and photos by Aedan
* Pre-orders of Inuujunga are available now through Coven Editions. Of working with the literary small press, Aedan expresses gratitude for Mia and Steph. “They were very supportive of my vision for Inuujunga, and I can’t thank them enough.”
** Of the richness in talent that is found in the North, Aedan says, “Oh my goodness, there are so many beautifully talented Inuit out there. Tarralik Duffy writer and creator of UglyFish Design; Tanya Tagaq, activist, author, musician; Martha Kyak, artist and fashion designer; Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, filmmaker and advocate for Inuit rights. I could go on and on, but I’d highly encourage those that are interested to do some research into Inuit art and artists!”
