Nunavut government asks Nelson Tagoona to throatbox for devolution

The Baker Lake throatboxer and beatboxer, Nelson Tagoona, will perform in a concert aimed at educating youth about devolution as part of a special video project. (HAND OUT PHOTO)

Nunavut performers, including Nelson Tagoona and Shauna Seeteenak, are getting together for a concert this Friday called “Qaummagiaq Alive Again,” at Nakasuk School.

One purpose of the concert is to film the song, Qaummagiaq, or Alive Again, which was written by the 19-year-old Baker Lake throatboxer, Nelson Tagoona, as part of a larger Nunavut devolution video project.

“It’s aimed at educating youth in Nunavut about the importance of devolution and what it means for Nunavut,” said Heather Daley, who helped organize the event, which is sponsored by the Government of Nunavut’s devolution division.

Tagoona, who also plays the electric guitar, will perform with his cousin, Shauna Seeteenak, 20, a rapper.

Both Tagoona and Seeteenak are from Baker Lake.

Seeteenak said she hopes many Iqaluit youth will come out to the event.

“Most of my songs are based on how we live up North and my life experiences, about struggles and trying to lift up other youth in Nunavut,” she said.

Seeteenak wrote the songs because of hard situations that she’s gone through.

“I want other people to know that they’re not the only ones feeling alone or sad,” she said.

Rather, Seeteenak said she hopes youth will feel “a lot more motivated and I want them to feel happiness, and that there’s much more to do in life than just staying in one place, that there’s more to Nunavut.”

Becky Kilabuk and Kiah Hachey, throat singers from Nunavut, will perform with Seeteenak and Tagoona in the Alive Again song, as well as on their own.

The popular Iqaluit band the Trade-Offs will play, and kids from the Nakasuk School Choir will also take the stage.

But Daley said when performers come from out of town, it’s always a good time to do workshops.

“Whenever we are bringing great role models like Nelson to the community, it’s a perfect opportunity to arrange some kind of a workshop with school kids,” Daley said.

When she approached Tagoona with the idea of doing a workshop with kids he was keen to help, she said.

He’ll work with about 30 grade 4 students in the Nakasuk School gym Jan. 17.

“Out of that workshop, tomorrow night, Nelson and the youth will perform together to open the show,” Daley said.

Half of the money from the tickets will go towards the Embrace Life Council.

The other half of the ticket money will go towards materials to paint a mural in Baker Lake’s new community centre.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at Nakasuk School, tickets will be sold at the door: $15 for adults, $5 for youth 13 to 18, and free for elders children aged 12 & under accompanied by an adult.