Handmade with heart: Honouring Nunavut Day through DIY
“If you have a passion, keep trying. There will always be mistakes, but that is how we learn. Practice makes perfect.”
- Gloria Issumatarjuak, 2024 Nunavut Day DIY winner
Nunavut Day is a meaningful opportunity to recognize, respect, and celebrate the rich culture, history, and traditions of Inuit communities. We are proud to host this annual contest as a way to spotlight the incredible creativity and talent of artists and makers across Nunavut. To celebrate, we invite you to take part in the 2025 Nunavut Day DIY contest.
This year, we want to see not just what you created but how you used it to celebrate Nunavut Day. Did you wear it to a community gathering? Use it during a special moment with family? Share it with others in your community?
Whatever your creation is, big, small, messy, wild or wonderfully weird, if it was part of your Nunavut Day, we want to see it!
The contest runs from July 4 to July 14. To enter, simply post a photo of your do-it-yourself creation in the comments of our official Facebook contest post. Be sure to show or tell us how you used it to celebrate Nunavut Day. One lucky winner will receive an Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB)!
You don’t need to be a professional to join in. This contest is about personal expression and northern pride. Just like last year’s winner, Gloria Issumatarjuak of Arviat, who showed us that creativity starts at home and grows with heart.
Meet Gloria Issumatarjuak: winner of 2024 Nunavut Day DIY Contest
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Gloria Issumatarjuak is from Arviat, Nunavut and a mother of four. Her creativity shines through the handmade pieces she creates for her family.
She began sewing at 13 when her late mother taught her how to make miniature mitts from duffel.
“From there, I made my own size mitts and kept learning.”
Over time, she taught herself to make parkas, bags and polar bear hide snow pants. She hand stitches in the early morning or quiet evenings while raising her four beautiful children.
“That is when I can sew away. I take my time until everyone wakes up.”
Gloria’s family L-R: Ludovic, Michael, Nicholas, Gloria, Bethany and Crystal
One of the projects she is most proud of is a sealskin and leather parka, lovingly crafted during the 2020 lockdown after her husband suggested the idea.
"He told me I needed a nice outfit parka. That is when I started hand stitching. It became popular with both of us, something we both liked.”
Gloria also made a special crocheted hat for her daughter Krystal, born prematurely and named after Gloria’s late mother.
“I wanted a nice one, so I completed a really cute one for her.”
Now Gloria shares her skills with her kids, including her daughter who has started small sewing and crochet projects of her own.
“My daughter has started small projects. She asked to learn after seeing me.”
Gloria discovered the DIY contest through Facebook and was drawn to it by the chance to win a phone her daughter had been wishing for.
“I was shocked and excited. I am very honoured.”
Her message to other creators is simple.
“If you have a passion, keep trying. There will always be mistakes, but that is how we learn. Practice makes perfect.”
Show us how you created something meaningful for Nunavut Day. Share your project, your celebration and your story. We can’t wait to see it.
Enter the DIY Nunavut Day Contest here
*Contest closed to Northwestel employees, but open to employee family members.
Terms and Conditions
No purchase necessary. Contest starts July 4, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) and closes on July 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m ET. Open to legal residents of Nunavut, Canada who are fourteen (14) years of age or older. Some restrictions apply. Correct answer to a mathematical skill-testing question required. Approximate retail value of the prize, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB is $1800.00. Odds of becoming a finalist photo/video and being entered into the prize draw will depend on the total number of eligible photos/videos received and the total number of eligible “likes” each photo/video receives from the public during the contest period. The odds of winning the prize among the finalist photos will be no worse than 1 in 10. Complete contest rules and information about entry available at http://www.nwtel.ca/2025-nunavut-day-diy-contest