Honour of the Drum Masterclass

Qaggiavuut held an advanced course in qilaut drum dancing techniques over the weekend March 25-28, 2022, bringing together masters to teach a new generation of aspiring qilaut drum dancers from across Canada. The course was held in the Banquet Hall at the Aqsarniit Hotel in Iqaluit. “This course is about decolonization and the right of Inuit performing artists to learn their own culture, practice and maintain the skills of the traditional Inuit drum” - Looee Arreak, Qaggiavuut’s Executive Director. Master instructors included Lamech Kadloo from The Tununiq Theatre Group and Igloolik drum dancer Pakak Innuksuk. Knowledge keepers included Susan Avingaq and Madeline Ivalu. Kadloo and Innuksuk spent the weekend working with eight drum dancers from across the Inuit Nunangat to hone their skills. Internationally acclaimed filmmaker, Zacharius Kunuk presented archival films he produced with North Baffin elders and spent part of the weekend holding discussions Avingaq and Ivalu on the history and significance of the qilaut. Kunuk made a 20-minute film covering the weekend with Qaggiavuut and will broadcast on his television network, IsumaTV, to share the experience with all Inuit.