Not yet 17, Taiga Las has led an unusual life in NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 capital and will be entering her last year at Inuksuk High School in September.

Born in Iglulik, Las was adopted by a Polish-Canadian family, where she has been raised as Inuk, Canadian and Polish. She's pursuing her love of music in her final year of high school and beyond, by planning to continue as a musician, drum dancer, fiddler and throat-singer while spending her Grade 12 year applying to music schools in Poland, where she also travels occasionally with her family.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 really proud of it,SA国际影视传媒� says Las of her background and her heavy involvement with InuksukSA国际影视传媒檚 music program. Last week, she was in Yukon taking part in the Pan-North Youth Fiddle Summit.

SA国际影视传媒淚 get to perform, to do stuff that most people couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 since they live in the North. I guess most people in the North donSA国际影视传媒檛 really know about Poland, and theySA国际影视传媒檙e fascinated that I speak Polish to my family.SA国际影视传媒�

Her last year of high school will have a heavy emphasis academically on music, with guitar, choir and band, while she also takes high level English, science and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. Outside of the classroom, the majority of her time will be spent on performances, lessons and practising.

SA国际影视传媒淟ast year, I had around four lessons a week, with lesson being about an hour or 45 minutes each. This year will probably be the same... ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a little bit [tiring], but itSA国际影视传媒檚 fun because you know that it will all help me out in the future. ISA国际影视传媒檓 tired, but ISA国际影视传媒檓 excited since it will be my last year of high school. ISA国际影视传媒檓 definitely ready to move on to the next chapter of my life.SA国际影视传媒�

Las says that performing, music, and being part of the Inuksuk Drum Dancers under Dr. Mary Piercey-Lewis has helped prepare her for that chapter.

SA国际影视传媒淢y love for performance has definitely grown over the years and given me the confidence to perform in front of large groups of people. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 helped me a lot with travelling and how itSA国际影视传媒檚 like on the road, going from place to place," she says. "And itSA国际影视传媒檚 nice to see other Indigenous performers when weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to big events, like Truth and Reconciliation... ISA国际影视传媒檝e gotten to perform for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Conference, and for famous people like Mary Simon and Justin Trudeau. So itSA国际影视传媒檚 been great to show my culture to people who donSA国际影视传媒檛 know a lot about Inuit and the North.SA国际影视传媒�

Continuing to inform others of Inuit culture through music will continue as not only her future education, but her chosen vocation. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 an education that began in Nunavut and will now go abroad with her to Europe, where she will teach others.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e heard the Poland has really good music programs... I think it would be cool and fun, and I get to learn a bunch of new stuff [there]... I think theySA国际影视传媒檇 be curious, maybe. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not too sure, but I want to show people my culture and how different it is to Europe, as well as Indigenous people in Canada... I really love our music, and I want to show people what that music is all about.SA国际影视传媒�