Inuit drum dancers help usher in FIFA World Cup

Drum dancers Barbara Akoak and Rhea Muckpah-Gavin performed for millions of viewers Friday when they appeared onfield as part of the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Toronto.

“It was surreal,” said Muckpah-Gavin in a phone interview on Monday. “It was incredible.”

About 43,000 fans were packed into BMO Centre in Exhibition Place, located on the city’s waterfront, for the event. An estimated four million more viewers watched on screens around the world, according to viewership numbers reported by NBC Sports.

The Inuit duo joined 30 other drummers and dancers who represented First Nations and Métis from across Canada.

“This was very important for me to display our culture for today and for generations to come,” Akoak said in a phone interview on Monday.

The opportunity began with a message Akoak received while at home in Halifax late last month.

Drum dancers Barbara Akoak, left, and Rhea Muckpah-Gavin hang out back stage before the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony Friday in Toronto. (Photo courtesy of Rhea Muckpah-Gavin)

On the other end was Jai King-Green, a councillor with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, whose land BMO Field is located on. King-Green co-ordinated the Indigenous performance.

“She asked if I know any Inuit drummers. I thought about it for a day and I said, ‘If you can’t find anyone, are you willing to fly me out?’” Akoak said.

King-Green welcomed Akoak into the performance to represent Inuit Nunangat.

Akoak recruited her neighbour — Muckpah-Gavin, who is also from Nunavut — and the pair flew to Toronto to begin rehearsals on June 3.

“We had a few rehearsals under the hot Toronto sun and a couple of days of rest and then we did our big show,” Muckpah-Gavin said.

Akoak, whose family is originally from Cambridge Bay, wore attire that represented the western Arctic.

She wore a floral-printed atikluk, or traditional hooded overshirt, made by her mother Annie Akoak. Her kamiit, or traditional boots, were the handiwork of relative Grace Poirier. Akoak made her own copper qaurutik, or traditional headband.

Muckpah-Gavin, who is originally from Arviat, created her own qaurutik, decorated in multicoloured beads to represent the diversity on display at the event. She wore an attigi, or parka, gifted to her by Akoak and kamiit made by her late grandmother, Elisapee Muckpah.

Retired Arviat educator David Serkoak made each of the women’s qilautik and katuutik — or traditional drum and drumstick.

Both women said they did not feel nervous during the performance, but rather proud.

This year’s FIFA World Cup — held in a different city every four years — is being hosted by 16 cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States. In Canada, Vancouver hosts seven games and Toronto hosts six, out of a total of 104 matches.

Following the opening ceremony, Team Canada played its first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. It ended in a 1-1 tie.

Team Canada’s next match is Thursday against Qatar at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. The game begins 9 p.m. ET.