Inuit of Canada to put on show at Olympics

Drum dancer and teacher David Serkoak performs at the announcement of the Olympic Aboriginal Pavillion last year. (PHOTO COURTESY OF VANOC)

KANGIQSUJUAQ — The Inuit of Canada plan to establish a big presence at the Vancover 2010 Olympics over the next two weeks, in an effort aimed at promoting the Canadian Arctic’s culture and economy.

This includes more than 40 Nunavik residents who will attend through two major organizations — Makivik Corp. and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

For its part, ITK says 30 Inuit performers will put in free shows at different venues throughout the city.

Mary Simon, the president of ITK, will attend the Olympics’ opening ceremonies today.

Makivik will split its time between two different Olympic venues; Quebec’s pavillion or Maison du Québec and the 2010 Aboriginal Pavillion centre, a showcase of the Canada’s Aboriginal people in downtown Vancouver.

“Makivik will have a booth in both venues,” said the corporation’s vice-president economic, Michael Gordon. “We’ll be there promoting (Nunavik) tourism as well as some of our subsidiary companies and the work we do.”

Gordon, along with the rest of Makivik’s executive, is travelling to Vancouver in staggered groups to represent the organization.

Maggie Emudluk, the chair of the Kativik Regional Government, is also expected to attend.

Between Feb. 12 and Feb. 28, the Maison du Québec will host Nunavik musicians and Arctic sport demonstrations every day.

Feb. 20 will mark Inuit Day at the Aboriginal Pavillion. A bevy of performers will take the stage, including Quaqtaq chanteuse Beatrice Deer and her husband Charlie Keelan.

Kangirsuk throat singers Elisapie Nassak and Ina Annahatak are set to perform that day along with Annie Alaku, Sylvia Watt-Cloutier, Etua Snowball, accordion player Benji Snowball and a group of drum dancers from Inukjuak.

A group of artists and craftspeople from the region will also be displaying their wares on Inuit Day.

This Olympic Games has shone a spotlight on Inuit culture like never before with the use of an inuksuk named “llanaaq” as the Vancouver Olympics’ logo.

Gordon acknowledged that Olympic organizers were using the inuksuk for their own purposes, but said it was also an opportunity for the Inuit to showcase their culture to an international audience.