This summer, Aasiva has been happy to get back to performing after a forced hiatus due to Covid.

SA国际影视传媒淚t has been a difficult time to perform as an artist, especially from Nunavut. There was one day [in 2022] where all performances for six months were just cancelled.SA国际影视传媒�

Getting back to concentrating on her music career full-time is on the horizon for the Panginurtung-born Inuit folksinger and ukulele player/instructor, who has been working for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. With her contract ending in December, Aasiva is looking forward to being a full-time artist once again next January.

Aasiva has very much savoured the opportunity to perform live recently, especially for the inaugural Canadian North/Air Greenland flight on June 26. The artist took the opportunity to first perform in Nuuk after a flight with many stopovers, then boarding the plane back to Iqaluit to perform the same day.

SA国际影视传媒淚 thought it was really cool,SA国际影视传媒� she says of the experience. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e never performed in two countries in one day. It was quite a feat. It was really incredible to see our two countries coming together. I was really excited to say on stage in Nuuk how we are seeing two peoples SA国际影视传媒� really one Inuit people SA国际影视传媒� united again after being divided by borders.SA国际影视传媒�

Since then, Aasiva has remained in Iqaluit, where she performed twice at the Alianait Arts Festival, which she credits with being SA国际影视传媒渁 huge supporterSA国际影视传媒� of her career as a performance artist, and the first to give her the opportunity to perform.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 really appreciative.SA国际影视传媒�

Upon returning to music full-time, Aasiva is looking forward to more performances, collaborations with other artists, and SA国际影视传媒渆ventually the opportunity to record another album.SA国际影视传媒�

Initially starting as a fiddler, it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 until attending college at Nunavut Sivuniksavut that Aasiva really discovered herself as an artist. After learning the ukulele, which she now teaches to young Inuit, she says that she discovered a love of writing her own music that was deeply intuitive, and similar to throat singing in that she SA国际影视传媒渕imicked the sounds of my environment.SA国际影视传媒� Her music was a way for her to get in touch with her feelings, and inspiration often SA国际影视传媒渃ame out of nowhere.SA国际影视传媒�

Without a formal technical musical background, Aasiva, who dreams of becoming a music therapist one day, says SA国际影视传媒淚 am more when ISA国际影视传媒檓 playing music. I become more open and vulnerable. I think music has healing capabilities... I found it harder when I was younger to express my feelings. I think a lot of Inuit, and particularly Inuit women, feel the same way... You can use music as a coping mechanism, a form of release.SA国际影视传媒�

Teaching ukulele workshops and performing her own music is a way Aasiva is using her gifts to help other Inuit.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been really incredible seeing [my students] grow,SA国际影视传媒� she says.