Beatrice Deer prepares to reclaim the capital’s Canada Day celebrations
Nunavik musician calls the prospect of performing to a national TV audience ‘mind-blowing’
Inuit musicians Sylvia Clouthier, left, and Beatrice Deer enjoy a relaxing moment Tuesday in Ottawa, just before the dress rehearsal for the national Canada Day show Wednesday night. Deer is scheduled to perform in the nationally televised show. She’s expected to sing one of her own songs from her new album, ‘Inuit Legend,’ and throatsing with Clouthier. (Photo by Lilli Akpaleeapik, special to Nunatsiaq News)
After a successful spring of performances across Canada and a new album release in April, Beatrice Deer is preparing to perform in the nation’s capital for their Canada Day celebrations.
“It’s kind of mind-blowing,” Deer said during an interview Tuesday at the National Gallery of Canada, a few hours before the dress rehearsal for Wednesday’s show.
She’s scheduled to perform on the national Canada Day evening show that will be televised across the country on CBC starting at 8 p.m. EDT.
Less than two weeks ago, the Nunavik-born singer-songwriter had an Iqaluit crowd dancing into the early morning during a show at the Alianait Arts Festvial.
And in May, she headlined Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s Tapiriit event, which was dubbed the “Inuit Met gala” — a reference to the swanky fundraising event at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art — because it was a who’s who of Inuit and non-Inuit politicians, business executives and artists.
But it was just last year that Deer expressed to her manager Michael Felber the desire to expand, with one of her goals being to perform at the Canada Day concert in Ottawa.
This year’s celebrations will be held at LeBreton Flats, a music festival space commonly used by the city of Ottawa.
Approximately 58,000 people attended the July 1 event in 2025, according to Ottawa news reports.
Even though this is not the biggest crowd that Deer has performed in front of, it is still a very monumental performance for her and the Ottawa Inuit community, many of whom are planning to attend.
This remarkable Canada Day is not usually celebrated by many Indigenous peoples.
In addition, Ottawa has the largest population of Inuit outside of Nunavut, so the representation of the community is incredible for Deer.
“I am ecstatic too, I’m very proud to represent Inuit. I am incredibly honoured to be on this big stage, nationwide in front of thousands of people. I’m living my dream.”
Deer will perform an original song from her new album. Inuit Legend, as well as throatsing with her longtime friend and well-known throatsinger Sylvia Cloutier.
After Wednesday’s performance and many months of being on the go, Deer said she will be flying back to her home community of Quaqtaq in Nunavik to enjoy the land, hunting and spending time with family.
(0) Comments