Yellowknife (May 29/06) - With her latest release, "Blood Red Earth," Inuk singer and songwriter Susan Aglukark is forging a new, independent path.

"I'm a lot more free to do what I want to do," said an excited, but busy Aglukark from her home near Toronto. These days, much of her time is taken up with charity work, speaking engagements and workshops, on top of all that comes with releasing a record independently, she said.

Susan Aglukark put out her first independent release, "Blood Red Earth," this April. She has been involved in nearly all aspects of the album, which she says is the "truest" she has ever released. - photo courtesy of Aglukark entertainment

After leaving EMI Music Canada three years ago, Aglukark said she had to re-evaluate her life and career: "I knew that I wasn't done."

In the decade since her first mainstream release, "Arctic Rose," Aglukark has won three Juno awards, sold more than 400,000 albums and has been named to the Order of Canada. Born in Churchill, Man., but raised in Arviat, Aglukark was the first Inuk to score a top 40 hit in Canada.

Despite the joys that came from her early successes, Aglukark said she didn't feel she was fully committed to her career.

"I wasn't ready when 'Arctic Rose' came out. I hadn't set my life out be a famous singer/songwriter."

"Recently, I realized I'm never going to get another chance like this."

She said the change has made for her "truest work,"

as she has taken the reins on nearly every aspect of the production from music, to promotion, to artwork, to videos.

"It's a major learning curve," she said of the experience.

"But there's a real sense of ownership. It's the first time I've really felt this way about a project."

She said this change in attitude has coloured many of the songs, "A lot of the songs are about reaching a point in my life where I am comfortable with speaking up on certain issues."

"'Blood Red Earth' (the song) is about acknowledging the power of the relationship between human and earth," she said.

"We are given the responsibility of nurturing the earth, and we aren't doing a very good job of it."

Though she has been away for 13 years, Aglukark said she is still deeply connected to the North, through family, friends and her work.

"When I write, I see an image, and 99 per cent of the time, that image is home," she said. "I will always belong there."

Outside of music, Aglukark focuses on activism and public speaking, including self-esteem workshops called "Fifth Season," which she hopes to bring north in 2007.

She said the workshops use her life's experiences to help and inspire others,.

"I Will Return" was released as the album's first single and video, now in medium rotation on CMT.

She said plans for future tours depend entirely on how the album sells, but she said she's ready for what may come.

"If the album doesn't do what it's supposed to do, the only person I have to blame is myself, and I can live with that."