David Jordano

After winning the prestigious Canadian AIAMI / AGO Photography prize in 2015, which included a $50,000 prize and a month long, fully paid residency anywhere in Canada, I choose to go to the isolated northern arctic town of Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada and document the Inuit people who live there. Immersing myself in an environment that is completely different from how I have lived, photography becomes the perfect tool to open a dialog and immerse myself in the lives and culture of those who I wished to learn more about. Inuit culture is one of Canada’s lesser supported populations, while their history dates back with evidence of human presence to over 4,000 years ago in this cold arctic region. Is there a similarity as to how the Inuit's are treated by Canadian's compared to the same way Native Americans in the US are treated, with little respect or inclusion? Yes.

I have always felt that my intentions are to be an honest and forthright documentarian with a sense of respect and honor in how I use this rare gift of photography, and how it has also shaped my life for the good. I hope these photographs will have revealed a part of a culture that few of us have experienced or knew little about, but should. I parked this work for ten years as I was working on my Detroit Nocturne Project at the time, but am pleased to present it here. Thank you!

Website dave@davejordano.com