Inuit meaning “the people” in their language, Inuktut, are the Indigenous peoples of the North with territories spanning from the Yukon, northern Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Northern Québec, and Northern Labrador within Canada. International Inuit Day, also referred to as International Circumpolar Inuit Day is a day dedicated to celebrating their unique, rich cultures and bringing awareness to Inuk voices.
International Inuit Day was first commemorated on November 7th, 2006. This date was selected by the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), and it is the date of birth of their founder, Alaskan Eben Hopson. “Hopson believed that speaking with a united voice was vital for Inuit to flourish in their circumpolar homelands” (National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health, 2024).
It is important to recognize and celebrate Inuit culture, ways of knowing and resilience as a distinct Indigenous group in Canada, separate to First Nations people and the Métis. There are over 160,000 Inuit within Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Russia, all with vibrant cultures, languages and traditions to be recognized and celebrated.
Check out these Films from Inuit Artists and Perspectives!
Angry Inuk (2016): A look at the prosecution of, and hatred towards, seal hunters for practicing traditional rituals. Plus, an examination of the high-profile celebrities that support anti-hunting campaigns.
Before Tomorrow (2008): As two isolated families meet for a celebration two of their relatives wait on an island to be picked up.
The Grizzlies (2018): In a small town in the Arctic, lacrosse transforms the lives of Inuit students when they learn how to play the game.
One Day in the Life of Noah Plugattuk (2019): Spring 1961. John F. Kennedy is America’s new president, the Cold War heats up in Berlin and nuclear bombers are deployed from bases in arctic Canada. In Kapuivik, north Baffin Island, Noah Piugattuk’s nomadic Inuit band live and hunt by dogteam.
Inuk Artists and Voices – Click on their names to discover more
UBC Student Spotlight!
Malayah Enooyah Maloney is a multidisciplinary artist originally from the Qikiqtani region of Nunavut. Her maternal side is Inuk from Mittimatalik, Nunavut and her paternal side is Irish from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Although she spent her childhood in the North, Malayah now considers herself an Urban Inuk. She currently resides on the unceded territories of the Shìshál, Squamish, and Syilx Nations where she is an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia. While pursuing a four year degree in Media and Indigenous studies, Malayah studies a variety of art forms such as hand-poke tattooing, sewing, and beading. Her passion for art started as a young child, influenced by her grandmother’s handmade parkas, and her home, which has always been filled with Indigenous art like Coast Salish prints and Inuit sculptures. Malayah creates art inspired by her mixed heritage and urban surroundings, and has been practicing everyday since the Pandemic. Her dream is to combine Indigenous advocacy with mixed-media to create culturally relevant content.
Check out Inuit Futures in Arts Leadership: The Pilimmaksarniq / Pijariuqsarniq Project provides meaningful mentorship and training opportunities to Inuit postsecondary students across Canada
Image credit: Dorota Lecht
Alethe Arnaquq-Baril is an Inuk filmmaker from Iqaluit, Nunavut. She is known for her work on Inuit life and culture. She is the owner of Unikkaat Studios, a production company in Iqaluit, which produces Inuktitut-language films.
Image credit: Becky Han
Becky Han is a singer and songwriter from Arctic Bay, Nunavut. She composes original acoustic music in Inuktitut.
Image credit: Blair Gable
Donna May Kimmaliardjuk is the first Inuk heart surgeon in Canada, and practices at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador. She was raised in Ottawa, Ontario, with ties to Chesterfield Bay, Nunavut.
Image creditL Marco Campanozzi for LA PRESSE
Elisapie is a singer-songwriter, broadcaster, documentary filmmaker, and activist from Salluit, Nunavik, Quebec. She sings in English, French, and Inuktitut, and directed and wrote the 2003 documentary If the Weather Permits.
Image credit: HockeyDB
Jordin Tootoois the first Inuk hockey player to enter the NHL. He is from Churchill, Manitoba, and in 2011 he established the Team Tootoo Fund which supports a wide range of charitable causes including suicide awareness and prevention, and supporting youth at risk.
Image credit: NIPIVUT
Kelly Fraser was a pop singer and songwriter born in Igloolik and raised in Sanikuluaq, Nunavut. She released two albums, and was known for her Inuktitut covers of hit pop songs.
Image credit: Six Shooter Records. Cover art for Riit’s ataataga
Riit is a musician from Panniqtuq, Nunavut. She creates electropop music that incorporates throat singing and Inuktitut lyrics.
Mary May Simon, born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik (Quebec), is the Governor General of Canada. She was sworn in on July 26, 2021, as Canada’s first Indigenous governor general. Ms. Simon gained national and international recognition for her work on Arctic and Indigenous issues and for her efforts in advocating for Inuit rights, youth, education and culture.
Image credit: Dulcedo Influencers
Shina Novalinga is a throat singer, model, and social media influencer based in Montreal, Quebec. She proudly shares Inuit culture on TikTok and Instagram, where her handle is @shinanova.
Image credit: Susan Aglukark
Susan Aglukark is a singer and songwriter from Arviat, Nunavut. She was awarded the Governor Generals Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award in 2016.
Image credit: Tanya Taagaq
Tanya Tagaq is an experimental throat singer, activist, and writer from Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay, Nunavut). She has released four albums, one EP, and published a book.
Image credit: Aakuluk Music
The Jerry Cans hail from Iaqluit and describe themselves as “a band from and for the north… committed to making music that honours and dialogues with their home communities.”
Contribute to the Arctic Rose Foundation. Started by Susan Aglukark, the organization provides Inuit and northern First Nations and Métis youth with culture and arts-based programs after school.
