Artcirq brings shapeshifting tale to Iqaluit

If Iqalummiut spy a pair of ringed seals loitering outside the Aqsarniit hotel Friday, don’t try to harvest them: They’re actually human guests.

The two are costumed representatives of the Selkie People, mythical marine beings that can shapeshift from seals into humans. The characters hail from Scottish Gaelic lore and are part of Artcirq’s free performance Friday night at the hotel.

“There aren’t tickets in advance, so people should come when the doors open at 7 p.m.,” said Maya Cook, an Artcirq member and co-creator of the Igloolik-based theatre troupe’s production Oran an Roin, which premiered Sept. 7 in Igloolik. The venue has room for an audience of 250.

Established in 1998, Artcirq is an Inuit performing arts collective whose mission is to bridge traditional Inuit culture and modern artistic practices through the performing arts.

Loosely inspired by traditional Scottish songs and stories, Oran an Roin unfolds on familiar lands.

“The story is set on the land near a seal hunting camp around Naujaruluk, just outside Igloolik, but we are also telling a story from Scotland,” said Edith Auksaq, 21.

From left, Jane Tapatsiak, Maya Cook, two-year-old Logan Auksaq, and Edith Auksaq star in Oran an Roin, which premiered in Igloolik in Sept. 7 and will be performed in Iqaluit on Friday night. (Photos courtesy of Artcirq)

She joined Artcirq’s black box theatre program, where performances are held in a room with black walls and a flat floor, in 2016.

Auksaq is ensconced in the circus arts as a co-ordinator, teacher, artist and mother. She helps run Artcirq’s on-the-land and sewing programs when she’s not performing as an acrobat, juggler, throat singer and on Friday night, a half-seal/half woman protagonist.

“Nunavut and Scotland have a connection with each other through the seals,” said Auksaq, adding Scottish square dancing has elements in common with the hukki dance.

The show also has drum dancing, throat singing and a bit of beatboxing, where vocal percussion mimics drum sounds.

The theatrical production was developed by Cook, Auksaq and the youngest members of the Inuit circus troupe, including Misti Maye Kripanik, 14.

Kripanik performs as an acrobat and actor and behind the scenes was also involved in costume design.

She and other teen members worked with Igloolik elders Eulalie Angutimarik and Madeline Ivalu sewing a sealskin costume to be donned Friday night by Artcirq drummer Anthony Qrunnut, 15.

Jane Tapatsiak is one of 19 artists who perform in Artcirq’s production of Oran an Roin.

“The younger generations worked really hard to get this vision to come to life,” said Auksaq, whose costume was sewn by Lucy Kappianaq. “It’s a lot of work to soften natural sealskin and stretch it and prepare it.”

Auksaq said Artcirq helped her to keep it real while growing up in Igloolik.

“It’s been a safe place for me. When I don’t feel anything anywhere else, I would go there and be with people who I know and who I trust,” she said.

“Those people saved me from a lot of pains, which I am very grateful for. They keep me entertained, they keep me active, they keep me happy. So, they’ve brought a lot of things into my life.”

In Oran an Roin, Auksaq’s character — a Selkie seal woman — lacks that sense of belonging and peace.

She must walk on land as a woman after she loses her sealskin to a hunter, whom she marries. The couple are content, said Cook, but the Selkie feels a longing for her ocean home.

Drummer Anthony Qrunnut performs alongside Edith Auksaq in Oran an Roin.

“Something is kind of missing for her because she is not where she belongs and she feels disconnected from who she is,” Cook said.

“It’s a story of coming back to who you are.”

At 28, Cook is one of the oldest troupe members and helped develop the production. She’s the only member not originally from Igloolik. She grew up in the Gulf Islands of southern B.C. on Coast Salish territory and now divides her time between Igloolik and the west coast.

“Here in Igloolik, I’ve learned a lot from very talented, generous people. How to work on skins and to go seal hunting has become a big part of my life,” she said, adding her experience working on Oran an Roin inspired her to explore her own sense of self and of belonging.

“There was a really nice moment where I could also draw upon my own heritage and all the parts of who I am.”

Friday’s performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by a hukki, or square dance, and a country food feast.

On Saturday, Artcirq plans to host free workshops at Iqaluit’s French language school École des Trois-Soleils.

Participants aged six and up can attend a mini-circus school from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants 15 and older can join dancers for a hukki workshop from 3 to 5 p.m.