Fall Newsletter

Make Some Noise this Fall!

Alianait has teamed up with sponsors, funders, communities, schools, Quality of Life and the Embrace Life Council (to name a few) to bring you the 4th annual Embrace Life & Mental Health Awareness Tour in the Qikiqtaaluk and Kivalliq regions. Not only is this our most expansive tour yet, it is an all-female tour with performances by Beatrice Deer, Aasiva, Susan Aglukark and the headliner Looee Arreak. From Iqaluit Looee will travel to Rankin Inlet, Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet, and Baker Lake throughout the month of September. In Baker Lake the concert will fall on the closing night of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Summit and also feature Susan Aglukark and Aasiva. From there she will return to the Qikiqtaaluk and head north to Igloolik, and to Arctic Bay with Aasiva who will then continue to Resolute alone. Colleen Nakashuk, who performs as Aasiva, has an airy and lively sound that is shaped by her melodious voice set against playful ukulele. With Inuktitut lyrics and delicate throat singing elements interwoven throughout, her music offers a fresh, buoyant and distinctive twist on indie folk.

Our Fall Concert Series kicks off with the Mental Health Awareness Tour opener on September 8th which features Beatrice Deer as well as Looee Arreak. Beatrice Deer is an award winning singer-songwriter from Nunavik. She has been making music since 2007 as a way to heal herself and share her message with the world. Her fifth record, marks a significant milestone in the history of Inuindie music (a genre Deer pioneered), as this is the first time she composed all the songs’ instrumentation as well as the lyrics. She sings in three languages: Inuktitut, English, and French. Her collaborators include luminaries from the likes of Land of Talk, The Barr Brothers, Stars, Timber Timbre, Bell Orchestre, Suuns, and executive producer Michael Felber. www.beatricedeerband.com.

Looee Arreak is also an award winning Inuktitut singer-songwriter originally from Pangnirtung. She is passionate about Inuit language preservation and creativity. She has released multiple albums to her name, is currently recording a new one, and has toured all over  Nunavut & Nunavik. Her music is in constant play on CBC Radio One and is covered by young Inuktitut musicians who look up to her as a mentor. Her songs are lyrical, full of beautiful sound and capture themes of hope, strength, playfulness and a love of family and land.

On October 20th we are ecstatic to present the soul of the north: the Trade-Offs will be performing to a packed house where you can dance the night away to their blues and rock & roll sounds. www.thetradeoffsmusic.com.

We will finish up the Fall concert series with a banjo & guitar duo The Small Glories. Veteran singer-songwriters in their own right, they teamed up in 2016 and haven’t looked back. Their music is part rock, part folk and always a good time! You can see them and a MYSTERY BAND at the Inuksuk High School on November 24th. www.thesmallglories.com.

You can always purchase tickets to all Alianait shows and find more information at www.alianait.ca.

Festival Highlights

We recently finished the 14th annual Alianait Arts Festival featuring 4 days and nights of amazing performances, brilliant sunshine and smiling faces. Three evening performances were sold out, including the closing concert which was heralded as “possibly the best performance ever” and which featured the Ukiuqaqtumi Tautunnguanirmik (Arctic Dreams) Indigenous Collaboration; the Maori looping phenomenon Māmā Mihirangi and her Haka dancers the Māreikura; the classically trained cellist Cris Derksen and the King and Queen of the northern pop scene Twin Flames.

Other artists of note were returning Old Man Luedecke and Nanook; along with southern artists Séan McCann, Leela Gilday, This Way North and Jane’s Party; plus Nunavut’s Agaaqtoq, Leetia Kalluk and Lazarus Qattalik. Each musician brought their all to the stage, and gave at least one free day-time performance and/or workshop for the public.

The free daily activities at the Big Top Tent and Elders Qammaq were a big hit. Children made clouds and had their faces painted.  Refreshments and healthy, homemade snacks were provided by the Inclusion Café and in the evening audiences could purchase artisanal coffee and kombucha from the refreshments area, courtesy of the Black Heart Café.  All the jams were a success, especially the Global Beats Jam and our workshops included Throat Singing, Drum Dance, Inuit Games, Haka and Greenlandic Mask Dance.

Great Benefits for Becoming a Member

For only $30 a year, you can become a member of Alianait and save 20% on concert and Festival tickets, passes and Alianait merchandise.  You’ll also be the first to hear about new events.

Corporate Membership may appeal to business and corporations where for $275 a year, your business will receive two Festival passes and a 20% discount on tickets and Alianait merchandise.

Why Support Alianait?

Alianait prides itself on presenting great art while helping to build a healthier Nunavut.  Our Festival and events are alcohol-free, smoke-free and pop-free and family-friendly - all of our shows are free for Elders and children 12 & under!  And, we work closely with local schools and community organizations to share our artists by providing workshop opportunities for youth.

Alianait is also a federally registered charitable organization. Annually, Alianait raises more than $500K from the public and private sectors in support of the Festival's artistic programming and community outreach and education initiatives.  Official income tax receipts will be issued for eligible donations. Charitable Registration Number 80373 3427 RR0001

More info:

Email: victoria@alianait.ca or alannah@alianait.ca

Phone: (867) 979-6000

Website: www.alianait.ca