Toonik Tyme starts with a bang

Elisapee Davidee is honorary Toonik

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

Some 300 people gathered at Nakasuk School in Iqaluit this past Monday to witness opening ceremonies for Toonik Tyme 2004 and to view a fashion show.

Singer/songwriter Paul Irksuk traveled all the way from Arviat to belt out a few numbers, along with five family members who backed him up on guitar, keyboards and drums. The Irksuk Family Band opened with a song about elders, and closed with a ballad celebrating Toonik Tyme.

Sylvia Cloutier and Madeleine Allakariallak offered a spring throat-singing performance, with songs imitating mosquitos and birds. Allakariallak later returned to the stage to participate in her nine-year-old daughter Natasha’s debut throat singing performance. Joamie School principal David Serkoak followed with a drum dance.

Next was a gala fashion show put on by Qaggiq Productions, sponsored by the Government of Nunavut, and supported by a team of young, eager models who spent a week preparing for the show.

The clothes represented a clash of cultures — traditional Inuit styles meet modern international chic — and so did the show. Instead of walking the catwalk, models performed. Young girls danced in brightly coloured amautiit and kamiks. A drum dancer danced his way across the stage.

Vinnie Karetak, pantomimed a seal-hunt hunt, incorporating what looked like slow motion break-dancing moves into a performance that culminated in the killing of another model dressed as a seal — much to the delight of the many small children lining the stage. The entire show was set to music, including a live drummer.

Near the end of the evening, Iqaluit resident Elisapi Davidee was announced as the Honorary Toonik, 2004. Fittingly, it was also Davidee’s birthday.

Share This Story

(0) Comments