Iqaluit council backs pool access, equipment rentals for Alianait
‘Pool party’ event for kids and families at Aquatic Centre planned for next month’s festival
Volunteers assemble Alianait’s big tent ahead of the 2023 festival. Parts of this year’s event are set to take place at other venues in Iqaluit, including the Aquatic Centre. (File photo courtesy of Alianait Arts Festival, by Vincent Desrosiers)
Alianait Arts Festival plans to dive into new programming when it returns to Iqaluit next month.
Andrew Morrison, the festival’s co-executive director, told city councillors Tuesday night that the festival plans to host an event at the city’s Aquatic Centre — a facility he called one of Iqaluit’s most beautiful places.
For that, and several other equipment and facility rental requests, he was seeking approval from council — all of which councillors voted unanimously to support.
“We wanted to try something out, to have some drum dancing performances, and some music happening at a kids’ pool party,” he said.
“We know we can make that a special time for the kids in town.”
In addition, Morrison requested that the city donate 40 guest passes to the Aquatic Centre for people travelling to perform and participate in the festival.
People from across Nunavut, Nunavik, Greenland and Alaska are expected to take part in this year’s event.
Alianait’s list of requests from the city was mostly “based on years past,” Morrison said, including the use of the large tent that is a landmark of the festival.
He also asked for the city to provide garbage cans, portable toilets, traffic roadblocks, stage equipment and chairs.
He said he’s in talks with the Iqaluit Elders’ Society on use of the Elders’ Qammaq as a performance and workshop space.
Morrison — who is running the festival this year alongside musician Jaqqa Petersen — provided a few other updates to council on what people can expect.
Alianait is partnering with Kakivak Association to bring young Inuit from across Qikiqtani Region to Iqaluit to train as sound and light technicians at the festival.
As well, he said he hopes this year’s event serves as an opportunity to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. Previous Alianait festivals have coincided with Canada Day and Nunavut Day, but this year’s festival is scheduled for June 19 to 22.
“The music festival is always a very happy time in Iqaluit,” said Coun. Methusalah Kunuk, responding to Alianait’s letter of support.
“I believe we have to support this because it’s going to look very good.”
Coun. Amber Aglukark praised this year’s date selection, saying Inuit “come together not just in trying times, but in celebration.”
So far, Greenlandic reggae band Sauwestari has been announced as a main headliner.
Time for a new tent, and time for Alianait to stop spending all its money for 2 ppl to hang out all year and then put on one concert for 4 days and still suck about a million dollars from different departments to do it.