While Alianait was happening, there was also a local baseball tournament happening. As with the hockey tournament during Toonik Tyme, the Iqaluit Humane Society was also raising funds by volunteering at the baseball tournament. Ian and I decided to cover one of the shifts, which mean working the canteen. We got to sell beer, burgers, dogs and fries to the teams playing and the spectators. We had loads of fun, enjoyed the absolutely beautiful sunny day and collected lots of tips for the pups and kitties at the shelter. Well, it was fun until the wind died down and the sun got so hot! See, in the arctic, the sun tends to get hotter than it feels down south, because you’re used to the cooler weather. Oh, that and the larger hole in the ozone layer likely helps as well. 😉
Once the shift was over, we decided to take in the evening showing of the main performance piece of Alianait, Tulugak. Created by Sylvia Cloutier, Tulugak was meant to tell Inuit raven stories – and there were many incorporated into the wonderful experience. As described in the Alianait brochure, the raven is depicted as so many things: trickster, passionate lover, nuisance, thief, and skilled hunter. Tulugak showed these many aspects through a collaborative effort of the many performers involved in various aspects of the festivals. It was a fantastic and funny presentation, and we’re both so glad we went. We were in awe due to the beautiful songs…and laughed out loud at the humour spread graciously throughout the show. Here’s some of the pictures that we managed to capture…enjoy!
Mike Philip Fencker Thomsen performing as Tulugak…
Charles Keenan and Beatrice Deer performing…
The members of Artcirq as ravens watching the hatching of a third…
Vivi Sorensen as the white raven…cleaning up the garbage!
Charles Keenan on guitar, with Mathew Nuqingaq and Laakkuluk Williamson drum dancing…Beatrice Deer singing in the background…
Laakkuluk telling the story of how Tulugak came to Baffin Island from Greenland…with Vivi and Mike Philip performing…
Angu Motzfeldt on guitar…such a treat to see him perform in this…
More drum dancing with Mike Philip, Mathew and Laakkuluk…this was so beautiful…
The performers of Tulugak!
Creator of the show, Sylvia Cloutier…
The video below is part of the Tulugak performance…wish it was better sound quality, but alas, my PAS cam isn’t the best. Cathy and Roger, this one’s for you…Artcirq performers juggling and Mike Philip Fencker Thomsen performing Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’ in English AND Inuktitut. Beautiful!
I'll Have Nunavut 
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