Welcome to the Northern Lights Trade Show 2008
Nukariik
Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik
Nukariik is a group of two sisters, Karin and Kathy Kettler, who work together to preserve and share Inuit culture from Canada. Their heritage is from Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, in northern Quebec. While the members of Nukariik have lived most of their lives in southern Canada, they have developed a strong connection to their heritage and culture through their Inuit friends, elders, and family. Through entertaining performances, Nukariik provides explanations of and demonstrates throat singing, drum dancing, ajaja songs and traditional Inuit games. Their uniquely beautiful art form of cultural expression draws audience members in emotionally. People are startled by Inuit throat singing’s simplistic production yet complex melodies that transport them to a spiritual time and place reminiscent of the Arctic. Nukariik’s shows are fun and entertaining for children of all ages, while at the same time are interactively educational through the sharing of a centuries-old cultural art form.
Nunatsiavut Drum Dancers
Nunatsiavut
Originating from a school exercise to revive drumming in northern Labrador, the Nunatsiavut Drum Dancers (formerly known as the Kilautik Drummers) were formed in the late 1990s. They are known for their creativity in developing and performing unique dance styles. Dancing in a variety of styles from Greenland and Nunavut that were studied in the revitalization stages of Labrador drumming, the drummers also perform dances that compliment traditional Inuit songs and stories. With ten members, the Nunatsiavut Drum Dancers have performed for local, national and international audiences, representing the cultural revitalization of Inuit culture, youth empowerment, and pride in the new Inuit region of Nunatsiavut.
Nunavut Sivuniksavut
Nunavut
Nunavut Sivuniksavut (“Our Land is Our Future”) is a special program for Inuit college students. It is affiliated with Algonquin College and is now in its 23rd year. This year, eighteen multi-talented students are enrolled in this program and have been performing and sharing their culture with the National Capital Region throughout the year with Inuit drumming, traditional Inuit games, throat-singing, fashion shows, and more.
Winnie Owingayak and Jean Simailak
Baker Lake, Nunavut
Winnie Owingayak and Jean Simailak of Baker Lake, Nunavut, learned traditional Inuktitut ajaja songs from their mother, Martha Talerook. For many years, the three of them performed together at local drum dance celebrations, special occasions such as visits from the Governor General, the Commissioner of Nunavut and other dignitaries. Winnie and Jean have also performed regionally at such events as Rockin’ on the Bay, regional music festivals, and territorial events, such as the official opening of the Second Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. Their singing is the unique Qaernirmiut style of the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. Their mother no longer performs with them, as she is now over 100 years old; however Winnie and Jean are proud to continue singing and performing as their mother taught them. The sister have also worked together to collect hundreds of tapes and interviews with elders and participate in the development and production of a series of CDs and tapes produced commercially to preserve Inuktitut songs and traditions. In recognition of her outstanding contribution and continued dedication to the preservation and promotion of Inuktitut literacy, Winnie received the Council of the Federation’s 2006 Premier Literacy Award for Nunavut.
Susie Pearce
Iqaluit, Nunavut
Susie was born and raised in Iqaluit. She began playing arctic games at the age of 13. Since then, she has attended five Baffin Inuit Summer Games and six Arctic Winter Games, placing high in both the junior and open female categories. She will be competing in the Arctic Winter Games 2008 in March which will be held in Yellowknife, NT. Susie also enjoys playing other sports such as soccer and volleyball.
Akinisie Sivuarapik
Puvirnituq, Nunavik
Akinisie Sivuarapik was born and raised in Puvirnituq, Nunavik and is now living in Quebec City with her 4 year old son. Growing up in her community, she always had a very special bond with her grandmother, Mary Sivuarapik, who taught her the cultural values of throat singing. “In my family there are more girls than boys, so throat singing was our way of getting together and having fun with my grandmother. I love throat singing because my grandmother made it so special for me.” Akinisie has traveled all over the world to share her special gift – to places such as Corsica, Germany, Norway, France, Greenland, Belgium, Austria, and many other cities across the country. She continues to perform today and to teach the younger generation of Inuit this important Inuit tradition of katadjak.
The Sun Dogs
Nunatsiavut
The Sun Dogs began in 1998 as a group of musicians playing in garages in Nain, Labrador. It wasn’t long before they had begun to perform, and in recent years the group has become a revered musical talent, performing on stages throughout Nunatsiavut, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and PEI. Presently, the band consists of four members: Ronald Dicker, Harry Dicker, Jody Goodwin, and Andrew Hamel. Performing both original and cover material, their style ranges from country to rock and roll. A career highlight for the group was recording a contemporary version of the Nunatsiavut anthem, Labradorimuit, with Inuit songwriter, the late Sid Dicker.
Jeff Tabvahtah
Arviat, Nunavut
Jeff Tabvahtah, originally from Arviat, Nunavut, has been performing for as long as he can remember. His first foray was in Trial at Fortitude Bay, a CBC made for television movie, in 1993. From 1994 until 2007, he performed at many different venues doing traditional Inuit drum dancing. In addition to his traditional performances, Jeff has both acted in and written for Qaggiq Theatre’s Nuliayuk, a traditional bilingual Inuktitut legend (2005), and a Beechwalker/CTV/APTN/NFB collaborative mockumentary, Qallunaat: Why White People Are Funny, which he also narrated. Along with his achievements in performing arts, Jeff Tabvahtah has also co-authored two papers on aboriginal music: “Identity and Environment in Contemporary Inuit Music” and “Distant Beat of My Father’s Drum: Contemporary Aboriginal Music and NCI-FM Broadcasting”.
Laakkuluk Williamson
Greenland
To make a long story short, Laakkuluk Jessen Williamson is a Nunavut-based Greenlandic-Canadian Inuk who was born once upon a time in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She is mother to Akutaq, a rambunctious two-year old and partner to Steve, a handsome environmental technician. Laakkuluk works by day as a political scientist at Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and by night as a performer of Greenlandic arts. Laakkuluk has been lucky enough to live in many parts of Canada, Greenland and Sweden and she is fortunate to have traveled to many parts of the world with her performance.
