Northern stars shine bright in nation’s capital

Largest ever gathering of northern artists kicks off in Ottawa

By LISA GREGOIRE

Nelson Tagoona, likely the youngest performer of the night, throat-boxes to a packed foyer in Ottawa's National Arts Centre April 25 during a ceremony to launch Northern Scene, the largest ever gathering of northern Canadian artists. (PHOTO BY LISA GREGOIRE)


Nelson Tagoona, likely the youngest performer of the night, throat-boxes to a packed foyer in Ottawa’s National Arts Centre April 25 during a ceremony to launch Northern Scene, the largest ever gathering of northern Canadian artists. (PHOTO BY LISA GREGOIRE)

Arviat elder and drum dancer David Serkoak, who now lives in Ottawa, helped usher in the opening ceremony of the National Arts Centre's 10-day Northern Scene festival April 25. (PHOTO BY LISA GREGOIRE)


Arviat elder and drum dancer David Serkoak, who now lives in Ottawa, helped usher in the opening ceremony of the National Arts Centre’s 10-day Northern Scene festival April 25. (PHOTO BY LISA GREGOIRE)

Evie Mark, right, and Alacie Sivuarapik perform April 25 during the National Arts Centre's welcome ceremony which launched the 10-day Northern Scene Festival. (PHOTO BY LISA GREGOIRE)


Evie Mark, right, and Alacie Sivuarapik perform April 25 during the National Arts Centre’s welcome ceremony which launched the 10-day Northern Scene Festival. (PHOTO BY LISA GREGOIRE)

OTTAWA — It seems that finally, southern Canadians have figured out that the North is, pardon the pun, cool.

That realization came swiftly when Baker Lake’s throat-boxing phenomenon Nelson Tagoona stepped on the stage at Thursday night’s opening ceremony for the National Arts Centre’s 10-day Northern Scene festival.

Dressed in a white hoodie and jeans with a pork pie hat, Tagoona exploded with his trademark deadly mix of throat singing and beatboxing as five-hundred or so jaws dropped to the floor in the packed foyer of Ottawa’s downtown NAC.

If that wasn’t enough to please the crowd, across the floor, on another small stage, Nunavik throat singers Evie Mark and Alacie Sivuarapik, dressed in shiny, black tights and modernized amautis, were also performing. The two acts traded beats and throat songs back and forth until the audience was utterly entranced.

It didn’t last more than a few minutes. The April 25 welcome ceremony was simply an opportunity to give glimpses of the kind of talent on offer for the next 10 days in Ottawa. But it was enough to create a buzzing sense of anticipation.

Not that the buzz was necessary, really. Many of the events are already sold out.

Northern Scene, which features 250 artists and 50 events, is the largest ever gathering of artists from Canada’s three territories as well as Nunatsiavut and Nunavik.

There are theatre productions, films, bands and singer-songwriters, drummers and dancers, visual artists, circus acts, storytellers, fashion designers, Arctic food events and activities for children. Galleries have been overtaken by Inuit prints and sculptures and everywhere shops, restaurants and bars are celebrating northern culture.

Elder and drummer dancer David Serkoak helped open the evening’s event along with elder drummers from other regions and then in quick succession, singers, dancers and musicians took to the stage including the Dehcho Dene Drummers performing with the lovely and talented Leela Gilday and the heart-stopping drama of the Dakhká Kwáan Dancers from Yukon.

Tagoona, only 19, appeared to be the youngest on the roster but he made a lasting impression on the crowd. Sweating and still pumped after the show, it was hard to get a question in edgewise with all the well-wishers and back-patters interrupting.

Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as a child, Tagoona says distractions and multi-tasking are just his normal state of being.

He says he was relieved to get this first performance over with because it was like opening a door and now he’s ready to give a full show.

“I really get into this inner space when I perform. It’s like I have all this energy ready to come out,” he said to the grey-haired Gil Carrière, a spellbound fan.

“We felt your inner space,” he said, smiling broadly. “We felt your energy.”

Tagoona, who will be performing and giving beatbox workshops during the festival, says he was thrilled to be appearing in Ottawa and that Algonquin College had also booked a gig for him outside of the festival.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I always had a dream of sharing myself with everyone. I grew up with a lot of struggles,” he says. “I feel like I’ve been given a gift. It’s not something to brag about. It’s a strong responsibility and a privilege. You have to take care of it.”

Northern Scene runs until May 4 and includes many free and family events. Go to the Northern Scene website for more details.

The Yukon's Dakhká Khwáan Dancers  wowed an audience of 500-plus at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa Thursday night during the opening ceremony of the NAC's Northern Scene festival. Running until May 4, the festival features 250 artists and 50 events. (PHOTO BY LISA GREGOIRE)


The Yukon’s Dakhká Khwáan Dancers wowed an audience of 500-plus at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa Thursday night during the opening ceremony of the NAC’s Northern Scene festival. Running until May 4, the festival features 250 artists and 50 events. (PHOTO BY LISA GREGOIRE)

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