Nunavut drum dancers take the stage in Greenland
Group to perform in Nuuk until Friday
From left to right: Nunavut drum dancers Leanna Wilson, Tooma Laisa, Keenan Carpenter, Jerry Laisa and Shelton Nipisar perform the Goose Drum Dance on Monday in the Katuaq Cultural Centre foyer in Nuuk, Greenland. A team of six Nunavummiut is in Nuuk until Friday for Katuaq’s Katuarpalaaq Drum Dance Festival, performing drum dances that they spent the last month practising in the Qaggiavuut Iqaluit office. (Photo by Vincent Desrosiers)
I would like to mention my concern with the Inuit selected from Nunavut. It seems the Inuit selected from Nunavut have been preforming western Nunavut dances, although we do not have such dances in the eastern part of Nunavut.
After speaking with an elder from the western region of our territory, they mentioned that if such dances and songs were to be performed that an uallinningmiut would need to be present in order to preform appropriately.
There is 1 uallinningmiut in the group that we are aware of, but the elder was deeply disappointed that there was no further representation for such an important event. We kindly ask you to do your research before inviting over such artists. At this point it the eastern Nunavummiut are almost practicing cultural appropriation.
Why couldn’t more kitikmeot artists be represented? Aren’t they all Iqaluimuit? Always the same artists chosen…
There is going to be another person from the western Arctic who is from Alaska
Do you understand the difference between cultural competency and cultural humility? You cannot define what Inuit culture is. Just because it is one way to you, it isnt the same to us. We are Kitikmeot Inuit, many of our ancestors come from Kugluktuk, Holman, Alaska, the delta region. We are still Nunavunnmiut. This is called cultural humility. What you define as your culture is not necessarily the same as another person or region. Please become educated on diversity. We are very proud of our delegation. Should you wish to share in your dancing, please go ahead. But no one person can define what Inuit culture is. Even within Nunavut.
If no one can define Inuit culture, can it be said that there is such a thing as Inuit culture at all?
This comment appears to sacrifice the larger picture for a short term resolution to a technical problem, but doesn’t it raise more problems than it solves?
Don’t cut out the part where it says “you can’t define Inuit culture if it is just one way to you”
Don’t indigenize all Inuit. Stop your attempted deductibles to this lack of respect. Know different dialects, and each region is different in their respective ways. Respect is main thing.
If Inuit are just one way to you. Don’t define them in your words. We’re all not the same. Culture within dialect representation should be respected.
This is truce. An elder once told me that the baffinmiut lost their traditional drum practices due to colonialism. Well colonialism has causes the western nunavut to not speak inuktitut efficiently as the eastern nunavumiut. Yet eastern Inuit make fun of, and take advantage of our drum dances, preserved nuliayuk traditional arts, etc. Goes on and on. Sadly
Why are there competition east VS west lmao
Inuks are Inuks, suck it up
Who said it’s about east vs west?
It’s about which lands preserved and cultivated a tradition. Just because the eastern Inuit lost their traditional drum dance practices due to colonialism.
Why copy Inuit from the west? An elder from the west had to provide information for these Easter Inuit. Why couldn’t be an Eastern Inuit teaching them eastern drum dances?
Lmao, learn not to take from other dialects then go on and say “but it’s Inuit so it’s ours!” ?
How correct. The Kitikmeot have their own Drum dancing and singing Troupe who do the culturally appropriate performances of this Region.
Imitating drum dancing/singing from a different Region and culture is not real and should not be taken or shown as such. The western style of drumming and dancing I believe have not been seen or performed in the past in what is now Nunavut.
Why was the Kitikmeot dancers/performers also not considered to attend this event?
Another shameful, back turning highlight from the far east.
Inuit dialects and cultural practices should be recognized. Indigenizing all of Inuit across the north is disgusting. We are similar obviously, but our detailed differences is what makes us special.
Dislike when others take, for self benefit. Without benefitting those who preserved it and kept the tradition alive like they life depend on it.
Sucks that colonialism has left baffin Inuit without their traditional drum practices. I’m sure they got elders in the region? Better than spending money on having an elder from the west, to fly out to teach baffinlanders how to drum dance.
Can you tell us how did colonialism stripped Baffin Inuit of their drum dancing traditions?
If you’d care to listen and ask about Inuit oral histories you know.
Chesterfield Inlet residential school had a serious impact, and also the baffinland Inuit were stripped of it from a bad residential school. They were told not to drum dance. And their practices died off. Hence the reason why an elder from Kitikmeot region had to fly to Eastern Nunavut to teach the younger generation about drum dancing.
These Inuit performers are taking a gift, and adding thier little “energy” to it. It’s like trying to take something and make it “ours”.
You do not see those Nattilikmiut attempt to copy Inuvialuktun drums and the dances. Because there is respect for eachothers perseveration. Some family name lines have a ways of dancing. Each family name dances different. These people taking someone’s family dancing name and playing around with it.
No respect for Shamanism beliefs and smaller regional Inuit dialects.