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Arviat heads to Israel

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Arviat (Feb 02/04) - The Arviat Singers may soon be making their international debut. The group has been invited to perform at the 19th International Folk Dance Festival in Ranana, Israel, July 1-11.

It will be the first time a Canadian group has performed at the festival.

The offer came about through the involvement of U.S.-based Bronitsky and Associates, a company promoting aboriginal talent for the past 10 years.

Ian and Elizabeth Copland -- through their company, Kivalliq Land and Sea Resources -- helped foster interest in the trip.

The two are working with company president Gordon Bronitsky on the possibility of setting up a festival to showcase the best talent in Nunavut, including singers, musicians, drum dancers and aya aya and throat singers.

"We, sort of, partnered with Gordon (Bronitsky) on this and identified the Arviat Singers as a group to be promoted," said Ian. "As a result of that, and Gordon's contacts, the Israeli opportunity came up."

The Coplands will be helping to raise the estimated $30,000 needed for the trip.

"Nunavut's Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth appears quite interested and we'll be contacting some of Nunavut's businesses.

"We also want to approach some of the larger corporations in the south."

Ian Copland said tourism stands to benefit the most from getting Nunavut's talent on the international stage.

He said the sales of arts and crafts and other Nunavut products will also benefit from the exposure.

"Once people see our artists perform and word gets around, they'll want to travel to Nunavut to see the land and traditional lifestyles," he said.

"It's all inter-related and would be a tremendous boost for Nunavut's economy."

Ian Copland said people shouldn't be surprised to see a resource company involved with the performing arts.

"We're interested in the development of all our resources and the people of Nunavut are the most important resource we have," he said.

"Helping to develop them, both economically and culturally, falls under the role of our company."