OTTAWA - When thinking about Inuit history, images of accordions and jig reels don't readily spring to mind.

But the influence of Scottish and other European whalers on Inuit culture during the height of the Arctic whaling industry is still evident, as was demonstrated by Nunavut Sivuniksavut students in Ottawa on Sept. 28.

Instructor David Serkoak and students entertained the crowd at the National Archives in Ottawa to commemorate the launch of a new website about the history of Arctic whaling. It was the first performance of the year for the students.

"They asked for some entertainment related to whaling history then we came up with the package," said Serkoak. "We tried to focus on 'what music do we adapt from the whalers in the past?' and one was square dancing."

Serkoak said the students already knew how to square dance, it was just a matter of combining dancing styles from different regions of Nunavut.

"The kids knew that already, we just had to fine-tune the way they do it in both Baffin and central Keewatin," he said.

Serkoak played the button accordion while the students performed.

"I know how to play the button accordion - that is adapted from the whalers," he said. "So I played my accordion while they square danced."

Nunavut's elders still use instruments introduced by European whalers during the 19th and 20th centuries, Serkoak said.

"Even elders today, many of them still play button accordion, which was picked up from that era," he said. "The jew's harp, that is also a new adoption. It's not the Inuit tool, it's something we also adopted from Europeans."

In keeping with the activities Inuit and European whalers shared, traditional music was also performed, Serkoak said.

"We also threw in traditional drum dancing," he said. "I'm sure the whalers watched Inuit doing that and throat singing."

Serkoak said the launch of the website coincided with an Inuit history unit NS students are currently studying.

"In studying Inuit history, there would be a chapter on whalers," Serkoak said. "They have been covering that, so it's a good introduction to that."

"It was worthwhile for us, plus entertaining," he said.