Famed Inuit artist Pitseolak Ashoona shortlisted to appear on upcoming $5 Canadian bank note
Famed artist Pitseolak Ashoona is one of eight notable Canadians shortlisted to appear on the next $5 banknote, the Bank of Canada announced this week.
Approximately 45,000 Canadians participated in the call for nominees.
The eight shortlisted candidates were chosen from the more than six hundred nominees put forth during the public consultation period that ended on March 11.
“Canadians put forward the names of hundreds of people who have changed Canada for the better,” said Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem, in a news release.
“I thank the Advisory Council members for their thoughtful and thorough deliberations, and I look forward to seeing which of these eight remarkable individuals will be featured on our next $5 bank note.”
- Pitseolak Ashoona: [c. 1904-1908]–1983; Artist
- Robertine Barry (“Françoise”): 1863–1910; Journalist and publisher
- Binaaswi (Francis Pegahmagabow): 1888–1952; WWI veteran and Indigenous rights activist
- Won Alexander Cumyow: 1861–1955; public servant and community leader
- Terry Fox: 1958–1981; athlete and cancer research activist
- Lotta Hitschmanova: 1909–1990; humanitarian
- Isapo-muxika (Crowfoot): c. 1830–1890; Blackfoot chief, diplomat
- Onondeyoh (Frederick Ogilvie Loft): 1861–1934; WWI veteran and First Nations political leader
Shortlist criteria
The shortlist was put together by an advisory council made up of seven people.
“A list of eight names may seem like a very short list, but the selected nominees emerged from thoughtful considerations and deep deliberations, to ensure it is a list we would all be proud to present and stand by with determination, whatever the end decision is,” said the Advisory Council members in a statement.
“We deeply believe this list emphasizes the diverse contributions of Canadians to our shared history.”
- Positive change: The shortlisted nominees should have changed Canada and Canadians for the better.
- National icon: Their impact is known nationally across Canada.
- Universality: They have had an impact in Canada and this impact should reflect Canadian values.
- Uniqueness: They are uniquely Canadian and known beyond their local/regional communities.
- Relevancy: They had an impact that is relevant today.
Noted artist
Pitseolak Ashoona (c. 1904-1908 –1983) was part of the first generation to participate in the Cape Dorset print and drawing program established in the 1950s in Kinngait (then known as Cape Dorset), an island community off the southwest coast of Baffin Island in Canada’s eastern Arctic.
In all, she produced almost 9,000 drawings, mostly focused on traditional Inuit life, and her work appeared in every edition of the annual Cape Dorset print collection.
She was elected a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1974 and she received the Order of Canada in 1977.
Finalist will be announced next year
The shortlist has been forwarded to Canada’s Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland who will announce in early 2021 whose portrait will appear on the note.
“Each of these people deserve recognition for their remarkable contributions to Canada,” Freeland said. “They all overcame barriers, fought for their ideals, and have inspired generations. I invite all Canadians to learn about the stories of these incredible people.”
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Project to digitize works from Inuit artists gets further grant from Canadian Heritage, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Sámi-themed Finnish short film makes Sundance lineup, Yle News
Greenland: `Enough of this postcolonial sh#%’ – An interview with Greenlandic author Niviaq Korneliussen, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson lights up London’s Tate Modern, Blog by Mia bennett
Norway: Walt Disney Animation Studios to release Saami-language version of “Frozen 2”, Eye on the Arctic
Russia: Russia’s Arctic culture heritage sites get protection, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Sweden, Norway team up to preserve ancient rock carvings, Radio Sweden
United States: Set of Indigenous Yup’ik masks reunited in Alaska after more than a century, CBC News
Artistic creativity are encouraged in Canada, preserving culture and tradition that could be passed in future generations.
thank you for sharing