Photo: Throat-singers perform at IPY conference icebreaker in Montreal

Nunavik throatsingers Beatrice Deer and Alacie Sivuarapik perform at an April 22 International Polar Year conference event in Montreal. Speakers at the event included Bob McLeod, premier of the Northwest Territories, Michael (Ahrihrhon) Delisle Jr., chief of the Kahnawake Mohawk community, and Stas Olpinksi of Makivik Corp. who spoke on behalf of president Jobie Tukkiapik. Delisle asked the 2,000 scientists at the conference to take care of Mother Earth, saying “we know what we need to do, [and] we need to do it right,” he said. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Mary Simon, the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, are scheduled to speak at the official conference opening at 9 a.m. April 23. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)