Northern Haze guitarist Naisana Qamaniq dies at 60

Updated Nov. 15 at 4:50 p.m.

Naisana Qamaniq, a guitarist with legendary Igloolik rock band Northern Haze, died Nov. 9 near Sanirajaq. He was 60.

Performing rock and roll since the 1980s in Igloolik, Qamaniq was part of the original band called Northern Lights with bandmates Kolitalik Inukshuk and Elijah Kunnuk.

That evolved into Northern Haze in 1984 when James Ungalaq and John Inooya joined the band.

A veteran rocker on both the electric and bass guitar, Qamaniq was there through all seasons of Northern Haze, from its early performances at Folk on the Rocks in Yellowknife and the 1986 Expo in Vancouver, to the band’s reunion in 2017 after the deaths of Inukshuk and Kunnuk 10 years prior.

The website for Aakuluk Music, which distributes Northern Haze’s recordings, describes the band’s music as “rousing guitar riffs reminiscent of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin” mixed with the sounds of traditional Inuit folk music.

Their self-titled first album, released in 1985, is considered the first Indigenous-language rock album ever recorded in North America.

Qamaniq was involved in the recording of the band’s next two albums, Sinnaktuq in 2012, which is a compilation of their music, and the Juno-nominated Siqinnaarut in 2018, which included new band members Derek Aqqiaruq and Allan Kangok.

Qamaniq is survived by his wife Susan Qamaniq and children Sheila, Clifford, Jeffery, Tyrone, Qayaqjuaq, Shina, Natasha, Rhonda, Elijah, Nathan and Davidson. He is also survived by his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Qamaniq’s niece, Charlotte Qamaniq, is trying to raise $5,000 to cover travel and funeral costs via GoFundMe to allow the family to “gather and grieve.”

Note: This article was updated to correct the age of Naisana Qamaniq