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By Daron Letts
Northern News Services
Published Saturday, January 24, 2009

GJOA HAVEN - Band leader and recently-elected Nattilik MLA Enuk Pauloosie and the Gjoa Band are performing traditional old-style dance music in Iqaluit at the end of the month.

They are visiting the capital to provide the soundtrack for the first Alianait! fundraiser of the year. The Alianait square dance will be held in the Arctic Winter Games Arena on Jan. 31 starting at 8 p.m.

Catherine Gillis serves as vice-president on the new Caribou Carnival organizing committee. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

The event had been scheduled earlier in the month, but bad weather prevented the band from making the trip so organizers postponed the event until the last day of the month.

"It's going to be a great night of traditional square dancing and fun," said organizer Heather Daley.

Pauloosie and his band played on stage during last year's Alianait! festival. Their energetic music pulled audiences onto the dance floor.

"They were a big hit," Daley said.

Pauloosie plays fiddle and button accordion, providing music to jig and two-step to. The band covers the likes of John Fogerty and The Mavericks as well as traditional Inuit songs.

"We had an awesome time in Iqlauit last summer," Pauloosie said. "We really enjoyed the festivities and we're hoping to go back this summer." Pauloosie said members of his band are hoping to do more touring this year.

"We'd like to get ourselves known more in other communities in Nunavut or NWT or even Nunavik," he said. "We want to go around to different communities and enjoy the music with other people."

Advance tickets for people 19 years old and older are available through Arctic Ventures and will also be sold at the door. Proceeds will be donated to the 2009 festival.

This year's festival theme is Arctic wind. Submissions from Nunavut performers are still being accepted.