‘We are all creators,’ says Elisapie after Juno Award win
Nunavik-born singer brings home Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year award
Elisapie performs songs from her album “Inuktitut” at the 2023 Aqpik Jam in Kuujjuaq. (File photo by Cedric Gallant)
Accepting a Juno Award Sunday night, singer Elisapie told the audience her 2023 release Inuktitut “is not just a cover album” and that it “tells a story of three decades in such a short time.”
The Salluit-born singer’s album won in the Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year category. The awards ceremony was held in Halifax.
“I am not just an artist,” she said. “Artist in Inuktitut does not even have a name because we are all creators, we are all meant to be free.”
Elisapie Isaac is known professionally as Elisapie. Her album was also nominated in the Album Artwork of the Year category, which was won by Riopelle Symphonique by Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal.
Inuktitut features 10 Inuktitut-language covers of popular songs by groups including Metallica, Fleetwood Mac and Blondie. During the ceremony, she performed Uummati Attanarsimat, her version of Blondie’s 1978 hit song Heart of Glass.
“I dedicate this album to my uncles,” she said, “who formed a rock and roll band after the residential schools, and they formed me,” she said in her acceptance speech.
Elisapie is set to share the stage with performers like Alexandra Stréliski, Mt. Joy and Future Islands on July 8 at the Festival d’Été de Québec in Quebec City.
signs of WOKENESS to the Core.
Clue me in on just one of those ‘signs of wokeness’? I’m not seeing it honestly.
Thanks for your inquiry about those “signs of wokeness:, Sq, though I’m surprised you asked:
Signs of wokeness:
– her 2023 release ‘Inuktitut’ “tells a story of three decades in such a short time.”
I’m 50 years old. Does anyone want to hear my story of five decades in such a short time. It’s a great story if you’d like to hear it!
– singer’s album won in the Contemporary Indigenous Artist.
Do we need a category for contemporary indigenous artists? What about a category for fat, fifty-year-olds like me?
– “I am not just an artist,” she said. “Artist in Inuktitut does not even have a name because we are all creators, we are all meant to be free.”
Spanish, Greek, Chinses, Arabic, Slavic, English, French, Hindi all have a name [sic] for ‘artist’ AND ‘creator’. Many names, in fact.
At the very least she could have made the statement rhyme!
– “I dedicate this album to my uncles,” she said, “who formed a rock and roll band after the residential schools, and they formed me,” she said in her acceptance speech.
Did her uncles form a rock band because of the knowledge gained in rezschool of music, lyrics, technology, artistry (even without there being a name for that) and instruments? Is that what helped form her … wokeness?
Almost entirely delusional, as always S… I expect nothing less.
I agree with you on one point though, “Do we need a category for contemporary indigenous artists?” I’ve asked this many times, but have yet to hear a good answer. Not to say there isn’t one, though.
GOOD FOR HER .