Hometown talent marks Gjoa Haven music festival comeback
Musicians from Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven and Arviat join in first event since 2001
Arviat Titaktiit perform at Gjoa Haven’s first music festival in more than 20 years, held Aug. 8 to 10. From left are Jacob Okatsiak; drummer Ivan Mamgark; accordion player William Bob Issumatarjuak; and guitarist Randy Shamee. (Photo courtesy of Flora Kukilit Arqviq)
This story was updated on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. ET.
The sound of fiddles, guitars and voices recently filled Quqshuun Ilihakvik Elementary School as Gjoa Haven hosted its first music festival in more than two decades.
The three-day event ran from Aug. 8 to 10, with a preview gathering Aug. 7 at the new healing cabin on Swan Lake near the community.
Festival organizers helped bring Gjoa Haven’s first music festival in more than 20 years to life. From left are Martha Porter, Rita Hummiktuq, Carol Takkiruq, Sandra Ameralik and Flora Kukilit Arqviq. (Photo courtesy of Flora Kukilit Arqviq)
Organizers say 75 to 80 people attended the opening jam, which featured Arviat Titaktiit led by Jacob Okatsiak, along with singer-songwriter Agaaqtoq and Gjoa Haven’s Nick Kigeak and his band.
This was the first music festival held in Gjoa Haven in more than 20 years.
No one had formed a festival planning committee in the community since 2001, said festival organizer Flora Kukilit Arqviq.
The official opening ceremony was held Friday evening, with Gjoa Haven Mayor Raymond Quqshuun and MLA Tony Akoak offering remarks.
Nick Kigeak and band, Arviat’s Titaktiit, and the King William Island Band performed on all nights.
Nick Kigeak leads the opening prayer at Gjoa Haven’s music festival. Community members gathered at the elementary school to mark the start of the three-day event. (Photo courtesy of Flora Kukilit Arqviq)
The weekend lineup of musicians also included Taloyoak performers Jada and Joe Tulurialik, Gjoa Haven’s Ivan and Anikan Takkiruq, Naomi Qitsualik, Paul Ikuallaq, and Alice Aleekee, along with a performance by the local youth band.
Saturday night’s concert, which included a jigging contest and square dance, drew nearly 300 people. The finale on Sunday saw about 200 in attendance, ending with all performers on stage for a rendition of Amazing Grace.
Arqviq said planning for the music festival began in May 2024 with no funds. The planning committee secured two airline tickets from Canadian North, which were raffled to raise initial money.
“We sold $5 tickets, made a profit, and then ran bingo, mini carnivals and poker rallies since 2024,” she said. “It went better than I ever expected.”
Funding also came from the hamlet’s economic development officer and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.
Arqviq said the committee hopes to stage the festival again within a year or two.
“Everybody was happy because they saw something different, something they haven’t had for many years,” she said.
Correction: This story has been updated to provide correct information about who played the festival.
Kuujjuarapik’s Blueberry Festival berry picking contest has random weights drawn from a hat to decide winners of the contest. Everyone has a fair chance to win those $$ cash prizes.
Congratulations to Gjoa Haven on organizing this event. Lots of work goes into an event like this, and especially difficult to organize in a town as small and remote as Gjoa. The organizers should be proud of themselves for bringing this to their hamlet.