Oopik Workshop with Mina Campbell (SSF 2024)

Join Mina Campbell for a hands-on workshop to make sealskin owls!

Mina Campbell is an Inuk woman from North West River, NL. She was raised and learned how to make traditional crafts from her grandmother. As learned from her Grandmother, Mina uses materials from the land and waters around her to create culturally artistic pieces such as Moose hide and Caribou moccasins, Sealskin works including boots, mittens, hats, vests, Sealskin crafts such as Ookpek (Ookpiks) and miniature Seal key chains, as well as creating traditional tools like Uluit (Ulus), also known as the "Inuit woman's knife".

Over the years, Mina has been invited to and attended various conferences, festivals, and craft fairs where she has taught, performed, demonstrated and sold some of her teachings and work. Some of the workshops that she has given include making sealskin mitts, boots, hats, and creating both ookpek and uluit for both youth and adult participants.

Mina has taught art and culture in schools over the past 30 years as well 25+ years experience teaching workshops to communities. Most recently, in 2022, Mina took part in an online artist group video exhibition curated by Meagan Musseau. In the fall of 2023, she gave an ulu making workshop during Spirit Song Festival (a weeklong celebration of Indigenous Art and Culture) as well an Ookpik making workshop at The Rooms (Newfoundland and Labrador's largest public cultural space) in St. John's, NL. In May-June 2024 at the Labrador Interpretation Centre in North West River, Labrador (where she is the Curator) Mina held Seal and Polar Bear skin cleaning events, open to students and public, which allowed her to showcase, demonstrate and teach others how to properly clean these skins in a traditional way, with an ulu in a Labrador tent.

Mina prides herself in being able to continue traditional cultural/artistic activities on a personal level and for the current and next generation, through means such as cleaning sealskin and teaching other traditional ways, methods and skills.

VENUE INFORMATION:

Parking - We are located in the heart of Downtown St. John’s at 42 Bannerman Street, and there is a small parking lot with one accessible parking space for blue-zone passholders. Please note that parking space may be limited. There is on-street parking available throughout the neighbourhood between April-November.

Accessibility - The entrance on Bannerman Street is next to our parking lot and is not an accessible entrance as it has several steps leading to the front door and there is a stairwell inside. There is one accessible parking spot in the lot for blue-zone pass holders which is directly in front of the path to the accessible entrance on Stewart Avenue. This entrance opens with a button when unlocked - please note that it is normally a secure entrance for tenants of the building and advance notice is required for the door to be unlocked. Upon entering via Stewart Avenue, stay to the right to reach the elevator for accessing the Event Space on the 2nd floor. The door in the landing directly in front of the elevator doors can be opened with a button when unlocked and leads to the Event Space and gender inclusive multi-stall and single-stall washrooms. Staff are on site to assist patrons that may need to use the accessible entrance. If you have any questions or concerns not addressed here, or would like to request specific accommodations, please contact [email protected].

Host or Publisher First Light Arts