Ruby Argrna’naaq drew occasionally in 1969-70 but no prints by her were released in annual Baker Lake collections. A fascinating image by her, Ruby’s Dream, was printed (almost surely by the artist herself) in 1971 but was never published (see Lot 23). We are not aware of any examples of works on cloth attributed to her, but this work is clearly signed with syllabics that suggest Ruby’s family name – and we know of no other textile artist who used that name. Many Qamani’tuaq women experimented with both drawing and sewing in the early 1970s, so it’s certainly possible that Arngna’naaq did so as well. This charming work was made using the appliqué technique almost exclusively, with only a few details rendered with embroidery floss. A crowd of male and female figures surround the igloo and a sled on blocks. The artist clearly had fun playing with colour, with both the figures and the decorative border.

Ruby Arngna’naaq was one of the founders of the Sanavik Co-op in Baker Lake, and worked variously as its printshop manager, art director, and occasional printmaker in the 1970s. She then moved south to Ottawa, where she studied journalism and worked as both a journalist and a broadcaster for CBC North and IBC. Arngna’naaq was also a political and arts activist, working with Pauktuutit, the Inuit Women’s Organization on issues such as women’s rights and suicide prevention, and speaking out on Indigenous rights issues. From 2004 to 2007 she worked with William Noah, Jack and Sheila Butler, and others as part of the Art and Cold Cash collective, which resulted in a fascinating book and exhibition of the same name.