LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Aklavik-born and Inuvik-raised, Inuit musician Willie Thrasher returned home in February for the first time in more than 30 years.

Willie Thrasher played the final show of his NWT tour in Fort Simpson on Feb 26. The concert drew dozens of community members to Bompas Elementary School's gymnasium, above, where they enjoyed final show of the season for Northern Arts and Cultural Centre. - April Hudson/NNSL photos

The tour was put together by the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre which brought Thrasher to Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith and Norman Wells.

Many recognized Thrasher, who has lived in Nanaimo, B.C., for the past 20 years, while the new generation had heard stories about him.

"It brought back a lot of memories in that town; it was a fantastic touch," Thrasher said a few days later in Fort Simpson. He was hours away from the final show in a tour of Grammy-nominated Native North America Vol. 1, produced by Kevin Howes.

"I played at the Igloo Church (in Inuvik), the place where I served mass and was raised to be a strong Catholic. It was my turn to tell them who I was."

Thrasher remembers coming to Fort Simpson once before, as well, "back in the wild days."

But on Feb. 26, he and partner Linda Saddleback were coming to the end - and, in a way, the beginning - of a new chapter in their music.

With Native North America Vol. 1 under their belts and a tour across the Northwest Territories almost concluded, the two are now looking forward to a summer of festivals, and returning to Nanaimo.

Native North America Vol. 1 was released in 2014 by Light in the Attic Records. That album included the work of 23 indigenous musicians from as early as 1966 - an effort by producer Kevin Howes to breathe life into their careers.

"The music I released before didn't get too far, the way it was meant to be. At the time, we were competing with a much larger base of musicians," Thrasher said.

"Being rediscovered ... now that we've got a second life, (the music) will extend. It's spreading more and more around the world."

That doesn't mean just across Canada and the United States. Recently, he said, a family member went to England and saw Thrasher's name in the music store.

"He said to me, 'Uncle Willie, I saw your album!,'" Thrasher said. His album is also being sold in Japan.

Six months from now, Thrasher hopes to be putting the final touches on his newest album. He said he wants to make a quick release in order to follow up on the buzz created by Native North America Vol. 1.

"(That album) is under work right now," he said.

During his Fort Simpson concert, dozens of community members turned out to hear him play at Bompas Elementary School.

The concert was bracketed by tales of his youth - his struggle through residential school and to reconnect with his heritage.