Instructor: Denise Klengenberg-Bryan (Inuinaqtun name: Angasina)
Denise Klengenberg-Bryan, known by her Inuinaqtun name Angasina, is a proud descendant of the Copper-Inuit from the northern community of Kugluktuk, Nunavut (formerly Copper Mine, NWT). She now resides in Calgary with her husband, Ken Bryan, the love of her life.
Angasina was named by her grandfather after her great-grandmother from Alaska, a name that carries deep familial and cultural significance. Growing up on the land with her family, Denise spent weekends camping, hunting, fishing, and trapping. These experiences were enriched by the making of traditional clothing such as mukluks, seal fur mitts, parkas, and carry bags. Her family also prepared traditional foods like caribou, seal, arctic char, whitefish, and occasionally beluga whale.
Denise’s artistic talents were nurtured by watching her grandfather’s drawings and carvings, as well as her grandmother’s sewing. Today, she continues to honor her heritage by creating her own Inuit clothing, drawings, and paintings, keeping her culture alive and vibrant.