Four Nunavut musicians are up for Inuit Artist/Group of the Year honours at the 2023 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards in Ottawa: PangnirtungSA国际影视传媒檚 Joey Nowyuk, Baker LakeSA国际影视传媒檚 Shauna Seeteenak, IglulikSA国际影视传媒檚 Angela Amarualik, and Rankin InletSA国际影视传媒檚 Brenda Montana.

The award ceremony is slated for June 6 in the capital citySA国际影视传媒檚 National Arts Centre.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a big moment for all four Nunavummiut.

Amarualik, who writes folk and pop music in Inuktitut and English, says the nomination rekindled her creative fire, which fizzled out during the pandemic.

SA国际影视传媒淪ince after the pandemic itSA国际影视传媒檚 been really tough for me to write and do music as much as I did before,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 havenSA国际影视传媒檛 really been motivated much.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淸This nomination] makes me want to publish more music because all the nominees are very talented and they really deserve to be recognized. To be recognized on that platform really makes me remember how much I love music.SA国际影视传媒�

Amarualik, who now lives in Laval, Quebec, grew up surrounded by music. Her father played guitar and once wrote her a song about how much he loved her. When she was home alone, she would sing Hilary Duff songs on her sisterSA国际影视传媒檚 karaoke machine. Initially, her shyness made it SA国际影视传媒渄ifficult to sing on stage,SA国际影视传媒� but eventually, after meeting other local musicians and practicing her craft, she got more confident.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 lucky because back home in Iglulik, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of musicians and bands,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 feel like they shaped me. I feel very lucky.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e now learned to be less shy with all of these experiences connecting with people and travelingSA国际影视传媒�

For Montana, childhood in Rankin Inlet was full of sports SA国际影视传媒� gymnastics, hockey and soccer SA国际影视传媒� and trips to the cabin with her family. She admits she SA国际影视传媒渄idnSA国际影视传媒檛 really fit inSA国际影视传媒� with kids her age, but says she began to find her footing at 13, when she started playing the guitar, and writing songs in both Inuktitut in English.

SA国际影视传媒淚 started recording myself and practiced many times,SA国际影视传媒� the pop artist said from Iqaluit, where she has lived for the last three years. SA国际影视传媒淎t first my singing wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 good but not too bad, I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 like how it sounded, so I practiced singing often when I was alone. Other instruments I learned are the violin, harmonica, ukulele, and piano.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚n 2018 I wrote my first song called Pisuqatiginiaqpagit,SA国际影视传媒� she added. SA国际影视传媒淚 used to work at the Simon Alaittuq School as a substitute teacher, and my favourite memory there was when I taught Pisuqatiginiaqpagit to the kids, it made me really happy that the kids sang the song and knew the words with out any help. I even cried.SA国际影视传媒�

Montana and Amarualik SA国际影视传媒� along with their fellow Nunavummiut Nowyuk and Seeteenak SA国际影视传媒� will soon make their journeys to Ottawa, where they will learn if they have won this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 award.

For Montana, a win would SA国际影视传媒渕ean a lot.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚t would be a great accomplishment for me,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 never thought I would make it this far, and ISA国际影视传媒檓 very thankful that I had people there for me to cheer me on.SA国际影视传媒�

Amarualik feels much the same way.

SA国际影视传媒淚f I win it, ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to use that to push myself even more,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 really going to use it to remind myself that I can do this.SA国际影视传媒�

Yet for both artists, the impact of a win would extend beyond their own careers.

Montana says there is a message behind all of her songs, and an award win would give her a bigger platform to spread those messages.

SA国际影视传媒淟ove is All Around Us is a song I wrote for my family when we were going through a rough time,SA国际影视传媒� she said as an example, adding that she wrote her song More at Ease SA国际影视传媒渇or women who are struggling in an abusive relationship,SA国际影视传媒� and Qaujimagit to remind listeners SA国际影视传媒渋f youSA国际影视传媒檙e feeling sad, things are going to get better.SA国际影视传媒�

For Amarualik, songwriting is an opportunity to protect and preserve her culture SA国际影视传媒� and help put Nunavut on the music map.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 very proud to talk about where I come from,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur language is kind of going away slowly. I want to protect our language.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淧eople ask me where ISA国际影视传媒檓 from, and I say ISA国际影视传媒檓 from Nunavut,SA国际影视传媒� she added. SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes people say SA国际影视传媒榳elcome to Canada.SA国际影视传媒� I really want to have Nunavut known as part of Canada.SA国际影视传媒�