Puvirnituq throat singer wins Nord-du-Quebec Artist of the Year award
Inuit throat singer Akinisie Sivuarapik (right), of Puvirnituq, Nunavik, received the Nord-du-Quebec Artist of the Year award at a ceremony on Oct. 2 at the Musée d’Art de Joliette. The award, which includes a prize of $10,000, recognizes the distinguished recent works of artists and writers and is presented by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec in cooperation with the Avataq Cultural Institute. “Akinisie Sivuarapik is a beloved, relevant and important artist. Her contribution is essential to the preservation, transmission and revitalization of katajjaniq (throat singing), an Inuit cultural treasure,” the selection jury said in a statement. The award was presented by CALQ’s Céline Lavallée (left). (Photo courtesy of Romain Guilbault / Musée d’art de Joliette)
Canada is where I always want to live…Please someone make me an Honorary Canadian or just a plain Canadian….my life is Canada…my special home is in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. I have many friends in Ottawa + N.S.
I have spent the last 20+ years lecturing with my Nunavut wall hanging exhibitions (2) all around the world. I speak at universities, museums and professors’ round tables too. I also work with 8-12-year-olds to have them create their own culture after seeing the culture of Nunavut. This began in Beijing. Yes, I insist on a map of Canada at each location so people understand the connection, where I am talking about… I have worked with many Canadian Ambassadors and Cultural Attaches over the years. I am a research collaborator at the Arctic Studies Center, NMNH, Smithsonian. Canada is definitely the best place to be!