Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 3, 2007

IQALUIT - Ireland got a taste of Inuit culture recently at the Festival of World Cultures.

Lois Suluk-Locke and Maria Illungiayok of Arviat travelled to Dublin late last month, treating audiences to throat singing, games and discussion about Inuit culture.

Maria Illungiayok and Lois Suluk-Locke were in Ireland in August for the Festival of World Cultures. - photo courtesy of Lois Suluk-Locke

Having travelled separately to places such as France and Africa to perform, the women were no strangers to a foreign audience. However, Suluk-Locke found the response they got during the festival surprising.

Their throat singing show, which took place on Sunday, Aug. 25, was completely sold out, she said. It took place in a church, which she said could hold about 200 people.

"The church was full. There were also people outside hoping a free seat would be available for them to come and watch, so it was a big crowd," she said.

Along with Suluk-Locke and Illungiayok, the show included throat singers from elsewhere in the world including Mongolia. Most of the 50 CDs they brought with them were sold, and Suluk-Locke was taken aback by the success.

"Everybody liked our singing. It was surprising that we would get recognized anywhere - I'm not used to that kind of attention but it was a lot of fun," she said.

They spent time at other activities, including an hour one afternoon playing traditional Inuit games with children at the People's Park, and Suluk-Locke said the children had a lot of fun taking part.

The pair also spent some time with some of Dublin's singers.

"We got to go to a local choir practice - that was pretty interesting. We answered their questions on Inuit culture and singing," she said.

People wanted to know how many people lived in Arviat and how people try to build Inuit culture.

But the attention they received didn't stop at performances. Media from Ireland and beyond were interested in what the throat singing duo had to say.

"We got a TV interview with a local entertainment station and also a radio interview with a radio program in Iceland," she said.

They have already been invited to a similar festival, which will take place next year in Norway.

"Hopefully we'll get an invite back for the same festival this year," said Suluk-Locke, who said they made a lot of friends during their stay.