University of Victoria announces $8-Million Canada Excellence Research Chair

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Heather Igloliorte (courtesy UVic Photo Services)

Indigenous art historian and curator Dr. Heather Igloliorte is joining the University of Victoria as the first Canada Excellence Research Chair in Decolonial and Transformational Indigenous Art Practices.

In her new role, Igloliorte will train and mentor Indigenous and other post-secondary students, especially those from remote, northern and other underserved communities, helping to decolonize institutional, research and museum practices. 

“The arts have the power to challenge the historical narrative of Canada’s colonial ‘truth’ as told — and hidden — by museums, galleries, educational institutions and public spaces,” said Igloliorte. “With art, we can create meaningful shifts in relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and support systemic and structural cultural, social and economic change towards decolonization.”

“Our goal is to leverage the transformative power of art and creative intervention for the benefit of Indigenous futurity — especially through the work of artists and communities,” Igloliorte added, a nod to Indigenous Futurisms, the scholarly and artistic movement that imagines alternative futures for Indigenous Peoples.

“I look forward to uniting and empowering an international network of artists, curators, scholars and community members to advance new decolonial and Indigenous scholarship and practices through research and experimentation in art-making, exhibitions, policy and public engagement. We believe it’s time for innovative work to revolutionize museum and gallery practices for the 21st century.”

An independent curator since 2005, Igloliorte has created and co-created more than 30 projects, including the oral history project, “We Were So Far Away”: The Inuit Experience of Residential Schools. With her community, she developed SakKijâjuk: Art and Craft from Nunatsiavut, which toured across Canada from 2016 - 2020 and was awarded the 2017 Award of Outstanding Achievement in Education from the Canadian Museums Association. Igloliorte also co-curated the inaugural exhibition of the Inuit art centre, Qaumajuq, INUA: Inuit Nunangat Ungammuaktut Atautikkut (Inuit Moving Forward Together) which opened in 2021 at Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq. In 2021, Igloliorte was awarded The Hnatyshyn Foundation's Award for Curatorial Excellence in Contemporary Art. 

The $8-million research chair was announced Thursday in Vancouver. It is funded through the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) program. 

Source: University of Victoria

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