Inuk figure skater brings culture to his passion

On hockey-centric Canadian ice, Kaniq Allerton is a rare, possibly unique phenomenon.

Allerton is a 16-year-old figure skater who is male and Inuk. One of a kind so far, he has been told by his coaches.

“I just love skating,” Allerton said when asked about his uncommon talent.

Nunatsiaq News met up with Allerton Dec. 18 at the Arctic Winter Games arena in Iqaluit, where he was enjoying his Christmas break with his family shortly after competing in the Gordon Linney Open in Winnipeg, a two-day competition for skaters of different ages and categories.

Skaters who develop through the Skate Canada program advance through star categories with the higher categories being more advanced. For example, Star 6 skaters like Allerton include elements such as double jumps as well as sitting and camel spins into their programs.

Allerton was the only skater in his Male Star 6 category at the Gordon Linney Open.

Even though Allerton wasn’t wearing his competition skates on the ice in Iqaluit, and was less flexible in his street clothes as opposed to his usual black costume embellished with sealskin and fur from Iqaluit Arctic hare, he still showed off some of his best jumps and spins on his hometown ice.

Allerton grew up in Iqaluit. At the age of nine he was first introduced to a learn-to-skate program. He was naturally good at it, so he gave figure skating a shot.

“I tried it, and it turned out I love it,” he said.

Last year, Allerton went to a summer skills camp in Winnipeg and later moved to the city to sharpen his skills.

And now, a competitive figure skater, Allerton has a busy schedule.

In addition to school, he trains four times a week and coaches three times a week.

Allerton is also getting ready for his next big competition, the Manitoba Provincial Championship, in March.

Even though he now lives far away from home, Allerton says he still embraces his Inuit culture and strives to represent it in his own way. His competition costume was designed by an Inuk seamstress, and he is usually skating to songs made by Inuit performers.

For the Gordon Linney Open, he chose Californiamut by Elisapie Isaac, which he described as one of his favourite songs from his favourite Inuk singer.

Allerton said his goal is to eventually move back to Iqaluit, become a full-time coach and train a new generation of Inuit figure skaters in his home community.