Open mic night brings music, art and connection to Kuujjuaq high school
Students and adults gather every Monday to perform, paint and share baked goods
Some participants at the weekly open mic at Jaanimmarik High School in Kuujjuaq pose in front of a mural Monday. From left to right are Keziah Grant, Nukaya Saunders, Louise Onalik, Robert Munick, Sarali Angnatuk and Mialie Kotak. The program brings together students and community members to share music and art. (Photo by Dominique Gené)
It’s Monday evening at Jaanimmarik High School in Kuujjuaq, and the art building is buzzing with music and creativity.
Secondary students and adults have come to perform, listen and make art.
Sarah Russell, who teaches music to students in grades 4 to 6, launched an open mic and art-making program in September, after noticing there was no music program for secondary students.
“I just like the environment and I like how friendly it is and it really is a safe space,” Russell said in an interview. “Already, I’ve seen the kids stepping up more and more. It’s working.”
Across the hall from the music room, another space comes alive with colour, canvases and brushes waiting for anyone who wants to create.
Russell said when she proposed her idea to art teacher Monique Stanton, she offered to open up her art room as well.
Louise Onalik, a 16-year-old student, performs at the open mics. She played an improvised piece on the piano on Monday night and read a poem by Charles Bukowski.
“One thing you will notice if you come every week is you’ll see the progression with everyone learning,” Onalik said.
“There’s not a lot of pressure for you to be absolutely perfect.”
Onalik said she’s been learning to play the piano for five years now and the open mic has given her an opportunity to practise.
“Coming here is such a great space for you to express yourself how you think you should,” she said.
Participants also enjoy fresh baked goods, courtesy of secondary student Nukaya Gordon Saunders.
Saunders is employed to bake for the open mic program by Mariel Capolla, director general of Ippigusugiursavik, a community organization that offers supervised housing to people with severe and persistent mental illness.
The organization receives funding from the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services to support its food security project, which sees healthy meals cooked and distributed to the community.
“When I heard of Nukaya, who could bake for the activity, it fits in the criteria,” Capolla said in an interview.
“I thought it would be an amazing opportunity to offer employment for a local young person and to use her talent for the [open mic program].”
Saunders said she’s been baking since a very young age.
“I saw my sister make brownies one time from a box and I really liked it,” she said.
“Then, I started watching this girl on YouTube and she really helped me with my confidence.”
Saunders has been trading baked goods with Russell, the music teacher, since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“She loves baking. So we would exchange baked goods whenever we baked something and it was a nice thing to do during COVID,” Russell said, adding that the finished product is “really good.”
As for the open mic, Saunders said she finds it relaxing.
“I enjoy coming here to stay calm. It reminds me of all the talents I forget about sometimes because I’m so focused on myself,” she said.
Capolla also sang the praises of the program for the way it helps her clients reintegrate into the community.
“Our clientele is people with mental health disorders and sometimes it can be challenging to involve them in the community,” she said.
“There’s an aspect of mental health where there’s lack of motivation but also there’s stigmatization.”
She said there have been some clients who have been going to the open mic every week since it started.
“I think it’s a really great program because our clientele feels included. They don’t feel judged when they go there,” Capolla said.
The open mic takes place every Monday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Nice. I am glad to hear that thinks are going well; It is something other schools can look into having an after-hours arts activity program (we could use it in our village)!
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As a new staff member at the school I was really excited to attend the sessions so I rescheduled a virtual meeting that was normally every second Monday to Wednesdays so I could go. The first night I went impressed me, Sarah’s supportive and gentle presence with everyone made it safe for everyone to step up and share. From hard core metal singalong songs to classical show tunes on keys to fiddle and pennywhistle, you never know what will take place.
The students courage really inspired me. I have been playing acoustic and singing since I was in high school for fun at home, but never in front of others. But after a few of the regular youth got up to perform and it looked like there was a few vacant spots in the playlist, I decided to anxiously share a tune myself last week. I encourage everyone to join in if they have time next Monday. Not only are the baked creations to die for, the company and creativity is very good for the soul!
I love ❤️ how your community are working together especially with the youth. I wish this for our reserve. I come from Pelican Narrows Saskatchewan it’s located northeast of the border nearest town is Flint Flon Manitoba where we do our shopping has Walmart and a Co-op plus Petro.. not a really big city but way better then the Northern store we have to pay an arm and a leg for a loaf of bread and a jug of milk and the store hours are ridiculous and absolutely the youth not interested in any activity. They need to come up with a plan how to get the young people motivated we have a lot of talented young people in art singing paddling sports. I 🙏 for my community it’s where I grew up and it sure changed it was quiet and people got along but not anymore.