Circumpolar Inuit share music and dance in Nuuk

Mask dancers and Chukotkan dancers performed as part of the “Sharing Skills” workshop at last week’s Inuit Circumpolar Council meeting in Nuuk. (PHOTO BY VICTORIA SIMIGAQ)

Dancers from Chukotka region, which lies just across the Bering Strait from Alaska, perform for the “Sharing Skills” workshop held during last week’s ICC general assembly in Nuuk, Greenland. (PHOTO BY VICTORIA SIMIGAQ)

Kids had their faces painted as part of the “Sharing Skills” workshop at last week’s Inuit Circumpolar Council meeting in Nuuk. (PHOTO BY VICTORIA SIMIGAQ)

VICTORIA SIMIGAQ

“Sharing Life,” the theme of last week’s Inuit Circumpolar Council meeting in Nuuk, also meant sharing music and entertainment.

Along those lines, Leif Immanualsen, a Greenlandic musician and performer, and organized with ICC-Greenland an afternoon workshop on June 30 called “Sharing skills” — open to the public— in Nuuk’s sport hall.

Young people from Chukotka opened the workshop with traditional drum-dancing, moving to the beat of the drum and imitating animal and bird movements.

Then, Robert E. “Hivshu,” in polar bear fur pants and traditional Greenlandic kamiks, played his drum from Qaanaaq, singing ancient Thule songs.

Canadian throat-singers Akinisie Sivuaraapik and Sylvia Cloutier also performed for the mainly young audience — throat singing is not practiced there in modern Greenland, and no one knows if throat singing was ever practiced in old times.

So how did the kids find throat singing? Very strange and exciting, they said, to hear fellow Inuit from other countries make the odd sounds that such beautiful women make, and see them laugh at the same time.

“Teach me! Teach me,” some asked.

But the biggest crowd-pleaser of the day was Artcirq from Igloolik, whose members taught the children how to juggle and throw bowling sticks, as well as carry a standing person on their shoulder.

Then, members of Greenland’s performers association, Nuummi Aliikkusersuisartut Isiginnaartitsisartullu Peqatigiiffiat, taught the movements of Greenlandic folk dancing — and although some were hesitant to start tapping practice their feet, after a few minutes they relaxed and took part in the show.

Many children had their faces painted by Miki Jacobsen, a Greenlandic artist, before the Kuskokwim Fiddle Band from Alaska, which played some rock tunes, ended the workshop.