RANKIN INLET
Nunavut Commissioner Edna Elias presented the first Performing Arts Award to Veronique Nirlungayuk in Rankin Inlet this past week.
Veronique Nirlungayuk performs a drum dance after being named the winner of the commissioner's first Performing Arts Award in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
The award is presented as the Commissioner's Medallion, which comes with a $10,000 cash prize.
Nirlungayuk, originally from Kugaaruk, started drawing as a small child and was introduced to drum dancing by her late father, Bernard Iqqugaqtuq.
She has won numerous competitions with both her drawing and drum dancing.
Nirlungayuk said she was told she won the award about a month ago and it was a long, but worthwhile, wait for her big night to arrive.
She said she was only about four years of age when her dad first started teaching her how to drum dance.
"When I started school, I would take my classmates to my parents' place after school to drum dance," said Nirlungayuk.
"Today, when it comes to more kids getting involved with drum dancing, that should be coming from home.
"If parents or grandparents start to show their little kids or grand kids how to drum dance, they'll have an interest in it.
"My dad taught me even before I started going to school, and that's usually how it gets passed along."
Nirlungayuk said winning $10,000 is more than a little sweet.
She said she has a few modest plans over the next few months.
"I plan to go home to Kugaaruk this summer for a holiday.
"Then I may go to Edmonton to see my little brother.
"This is a proud night for me."
Nirlungayuk has made a major contribution to Nunavut arts as a drum dancer, artist, Inuit dollmaker and writer.
Elias said the former commissioners had the Nunavut Arts Award, but she wanted to alter it to reflect the growing number of youths involved on the performing arts scene as throat singers, dancers, singers and throat boxers.
She said it means a lot to her to have an avenue such as the Performing Arts Award to encourage the youths in that field.
"I'm glad I'm not on the committee making the final decision on the winner because it's such a difficult choice.
"They had a tough time rereading the nominations and previewing all the material submitted on each nominee, before getting together and coming up with a consensus agreement.
"They did have the option to split the prize in two, but they chose to give it as one award."
"$10,000 is a nice chunk of change and it's well-earned for this award," Elias said.
