Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts reaches Northwards

This winter, law students working in the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts externship at the Faculty of Law turned their attention northwards as part of the clinic’s ongoing outreach activities to ensure artists based in the north have access to legal knowledge and information to help them grow creatively and economically.

On February 7, 2026, Arts Clinic students both gave a presentation on intellectual property law for artists, and ran a booth on behalf of the Clinic at the Northern Perspectives 2026 Conference co-hosted by the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce and the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg. The Conference brought together political and industry leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, policymakers to discuss trade, innovation, economic development, entrepreneurship, cultural industries, and to spotlight opportunities for partnerships between Manitoba and Nunavut for creative and economic growth.

Then, from February 20 to 22, 2026,  two more Arts Clinic externship students travelled to Flin Flon to attend the imagiNorthern Summit 2026, to learn from Northern Manitobans, and offer support and raise awareness of how students working in the clinic can help artists with legal matters. .

Upon returning from these outreach endeavours, Clinic students shared insights into northern artists’ business and legal needs, and critical lessons learned.

Why IP matters more than ever for Inuit artists: Copyright, resale rights, and the future of creative work in Nunavut

At the Northern Perspectives Conference, students learned that historically, northern artists have not been able to claim royalties for their work due to for several reasons including not signing or identifying their work. In their presentation on intellectual property (IP), Artist Resale Rights (ARR), and new tools available to creators through Canada’s new online resource IP Central, third-year students Paul Chorney, Travis Dech, and Vanessa Smith engaged with participants in lively discussions. Artists raised questions throughout and shared their own experiences navigating copyright, resale markets and more.

One of the highlights of the presentation was discussion around Artist’s Resale Rights (ARR), which is expected to soon be a reality in Canada.  ARR would allow visual artists to receive a royalty each time their work is resold on the secondary market, ensuring creators benefit as the value of their work increases over time – just as already done in over 90 other countries.

The potential impact of ARR is particularly significant for Inuit visual artists and improving their economic conditions. As Dech explained, “Art is one of the most important ways that communities can cement their culture and heritage for generations, but also their livelihoods. Giving artists information on how to control, protect and benefit from their works is not only a way we as a Clinic can provide practical legal information and assistance, but also an invaluable way to ensure Inuit culture and heritage can be protected and respected for generations to come. I am so grateful I was able to meet and provide these artists with the information we did in our presentation.”

Resale royalties depend on correctly identifying artists, meaning unsigned or illegibly signed works can prevent artists from receiving future ARR payments. Students emphasized that signing work protects artists and may help them benefit from future resale rights when ARR is implemented in Canada. Reflecting on these conversations, Smith noted, “Listening to artists share their work and the care they put into it reinforced how vital it is that they have the tools to protect and benefit from their creations over time.”

First-languages, access, and inclusion

Accessibility and inclusivity were also central to the event. The students’ presentation was interpreted into Inuktitut by Theresie Tungilik, O.C., allowing Inuit artists to participate in both English and Inuktitut ensuring the event was inclusive and accessible to the entire community. This made sharing information and participating in conversations about intellectual property and related subjects open to everyone. Smith said, “Talking with artists and hearing questions asked in multiple languages really demonstrated how important it is that legal information be accessible to creative communities across the North, including in Indigenous languages.”

The law students were most appreciative of Tungilik’s translation services and got to meet her as well. She is a well-known, highly respected Inuit artist and national arts leader from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.

In addition to the presentation, the students also hosted an information booth at the Conference’s tradeshow, where artists could continue conversations and others attending the conference could learn about clinic services and the Faculty of Law. Dech, Chorney, Smith, as well as Serena Bevilacqua, Nav Nain, Gilad Stitz, and Sparsh Kohli were on hand to answer questions about copyright, contracts, and protecting creative work. 

By the North, for the North, in the North

This theme of "By the North, for the North, in the North" took center stage throughout the imagiNorthern Summit and captured both the spirit of the gathering. It also helped create a blueprint for their future as artists, by amplifying the North’s creative voices and strengthening a Northern creative economy.

At its heart was a question that continues to guide the imagiNorthern Network’s work: How can the arts connect people in the North and connect people to the North?

Arts Clinic students Canard and Hutchison made the 764 kilometre trip from Winnipeg to Flin Flon to take part in this event, the principal aim of which was to explore how the success of the imagiNorthern Network could be expanded to other communities across the North and beyond by cultivating shared experiences and a sense of belonging. The focus is on the arts, food, sustainability, Northern economic development, and reflects a vision that is both practical, innovative as well as essential to strengthening every Northern community.

The imagiNorthern Network was incubated by the Flin Flon Arts Council in early 2021 and created to strengthen communities and bring together creative voices in Flin Flon, The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Snow Lake, Thompson, Churchill, and Lac Brochet. 

The Network supports visual artists, makers, photographers, musicians, culinary artists, and creatives of all styles who make up the North’s creative canvas. This work is grounded in the belief that the arts are not only a cultural force but a powerful driver of community development, sustainability, and economic transformation.

Bringing Communities Together

Summit attendee Cody Wood from Thompson shared, “imagiNorthern’s openness to integrate everyone, including people who don’t have a connection to the group, is warming. They are forward‑thinking, looking at people who can help achieve the goal. It is exciting to work with the results‑oriented team and to be included in the decision‑making as part of a younger generation.”

Third-year law student Jessie Canard mentioned, “Investing in artists is something we need more of, which makes what imagiNorthern something special. The passion involved and the possibilities this network can create are nothing but exciting. I can’t wait to see how the network grows. You also don’t need to be from the North to be involved in the network either.”

Second‑year law student Cole Hutchison reflected on the Summit: “Seeing the dedicated group come together to continue turning the idea of imagiNorthern into an autonomous organization was inspiring, and the conversations throughout the summit were meaningful.”

Experiencing Flin Flon’s Arts Community

Flin Flon has a very vibrant arts community that summit attendees experienced firsthand. Visits to the NorVA Centre showcased local artwork and creative spaces. Evenings at Johnny’s Social Club filled the room with music and connection. A stop at the Flin Flon Snow Lodge offered a glimpse into the region’s unique cultural landscape. 

Fiona Rettie, a Churchill-based Project Manager for the imagiNorthern Network noted, “My favourite part of every conference is the time spent outside of the meetings, all that time where you are able to connect with each other.”

Clinic Outreach in Northern Manitoba

This was the Clinic’s third trip within 12 months to different communities in Northern Manitoba. The students had the opportunity to share with attendees, the work that the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts does including providing legal assistance for artists, arts groups, and people in the creative sector, support with governance, intellectual property, contracts, and more. 

For the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts teams, meeting Indigenous artists confirmed there is a very real and growing need for accessible legal information in the North. Students learned that not all learning occurs in classrooms, that it is essential to support Northern creative entrepreneurs, and that it is of critical importance to understand and respect cultural diversity including providing language accessibility to overcome barriers to communication.

Acknowledgement

The Clinic is incredibly grateful for the support of Innovation, Science & Economic Development Canada through the IP Clinics Program Grant funding, which makes these essential in-person, face-to-face Northern visits possible.