❤ About ❤

Ullaakkut! Zorga Qaunaujunga, Iglulingmiutaujunga. I am an actor and multidisciplinary artist - I do tattooing, graphic art, jewelry, workshops, storytelling and more!

Tatiggat is one of my namesakes - she was my great grandmother from Mittimatalik/Igloolik. She was creative, caring and very loved. She loved root beer and so do I. I feel her warmth when my father speaks of her. I feel so connected to her when I’m being myself.

I grew up in Iglulik, Nunavut until the age of ten. My Ataata is from there, half my family is there. My mom is white of German settler heritage near Pembroke, Ontario. In 1999, I moved to Ottawa with family for school. I went to Canterbury Arts Highschool, which allowed me to explore many different art forms - dance, theatre, writing, video and media arts, and visual art.

I then pursued Indigenous Studies at the University of Ottawa, which helped me think critically about my Indigeneity and my surroundings. I started work at Nunavut Sivuniksavut in 2013, and retired in 2023. I learned the most about myself and Inuit culture during my time at NS - something I didn’t realize I needed until I experienced it.

It was at NS that I discovered that being a full time artist was possible for me. I could see my knowledge and skills were valuable, and that my voice as an Inuk was valuable. After putting my artistic endeavours aside for several years, I started creating again. I started tattooing, drawing, painting, and creating jewellery.

I developed skills in a wide range of materials, from sealskin and different kinds of animal fur, to drawing and illustration, printmaking, video creation, podcasting, and hand-poke tattooing. I am project-oriented, and thrive off of switching up what I’m doing often.

Although education is a passion of mine, and I loved working at NS, as soon as I saw it was possible, all I could think of was doing my dream job - being my own boss and doing creative stuff full time! So in 2023, I left NS to work as a full time artist!

Auditions for North of North also came out that year. I auditioned, and got the part of Millie Maktana! This was life-changing. I went through five round of auditions. I had major imposter-syndrome from the later callbacks until the first day I was on camera. I thought there must be someone more fitting, more deserving of this role. They must have made a mistake. I was afraid to want the role. But my doubts were blown away when the assistant director said “cut!” for the first time. It was the dumpfire scene - I was sitting next to a Maori actor, acting. Me. I was acting. And being paid to do it. It was so easy, it was like breathing. I felt so useful. It was clear to me that I had a skill that was helping the team, and this skill happened to be one of my favourite things to do of all time. All the preparation I did paid off. All of who I am was being celebrated. That little flame of a dream inside me roared alive that day. It wasn’t just the acting I loved - it was the fast-paced, dynamic, collaborative environment of storytelling through film. And I felt like a workhorse. I could do take after take after take, and I was so happy. Like a working dog. I didn’t realize I’d been dreaming of being an actor until I saw it was possible.

In my years of working for myself, I have pushed myself to do things that scare me, knowing that fear was holding me back. I trusted that there was a place on the other side of fear, and it was way cooler over there, or at least different than the side of fear I’d been on for all of my 32 years of life up to that point. Through every scary or difficult thing I tackled, however big or small, I felt stronger, more equipped for life. I am learning, growing, changing all the time and I’m so grateful. I learned that chasing dreams instead of running from fear made life so much easier. Gratitude everyday. It’s the lube of life.

So here I am, living my best life! I hope you enjoy your visit into my world! I appreciate you! Qujannamiik!

❤ Zorga