Terry Uyarak: Part-time hunter, part-time musician
Terry Uyarak is a self-taught acoustic singer/songwriter from Igloolik, Nunavut (just south of Baffin Island). He is a father, husband, and a hunter in his community. His debut album “Nunarjua Isulinginniani” (Before the World Ends) was released during the pandemic (after much persuasion from his friends and community) and contains storytelling from an Igloolik elder, along with sounds from Uyarak’s howling dog-sled team and the arctic wind. The song “Nutaraullunga” (When I was a kid) is reminiscent of the multi-month long trips his family took north of Igloolik, where they would hunt caribou, walrus, seals, and arctic char. Like many rural villages in the north, people still practice subsistence hunting and gathering despite no longer living nomadically. The same year Urayak’s first album was released, him and his best friend went on a ten-day polar bear hunt with only their dog teams for navigation and transportation (no phones, no GPS).
Many of Uyarak’s songs include retellings of his grandmother’s stories in Inuktitut. They are a powerful reminder of Inuit and Indigenous resilience at large. Uyarak grew up as his elders began to reclaim songs and other cultural practices that were prohibited by the church and Canadian government. Uyarak’s music is a celebration of the hardiness of his people and what it means to be Inuit in the 21st century. Most of Uyarak’s recent recordings were done at Aakuluk Music’s studio in Iqualuit–a garage insulated with caribou, muskox, seal, and polar bear skins. Uyarak knows his music will be a testimony to his people’s immense resilience and remind future generations of their roots.
Pamik, P. (2020, May 1). “The trip of a lifetime”: 2 inuk men relive old ways in spring polar bear hunt | CBC news. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/inuit-nunavut-dog-team-polar-bear-hunt-1.5551842
Tranter, E. (2020, November 15). “I’m Super Inuk”: Nunavut singer Terry Uyarak releases songs in Inuktitut | CBC news. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/terry-uyarak-profile-inuktitut-1.5802563
Terry Uyarak – Unnuaq. Killbeat Music. (n.d.). https://www.killbeatmusic.com/terryuyarak
To me, Uyarak’s music exhibits the resilience of the Indigenous people. The powerful chords, combined with Uyarak’s passionate vocals paints a strong picture of strength. The song “Nutaraullunga” was very uplifting. In comparison to my artist, John Angaiak, this music utilizes more of the vibrations and sounds expected in indigenous music, with a modern twist. On the other hand, Angaiak’s simple melodies and easy-to-produce chords do well to tell the story at hand. The idea of reminiscing on the past, on tradition, and ancestors seems to be prominent across genres of indigenous music. I really enjoyed reading about Uyarak’s proclivity for hunting and other traditional Inuit activites, and found that similar to Angaiak, there seems to be a connection between soulful music and being connected with one’s roots.
I really enjoyed what you highlight about Uyarak and how he reinforces ancestral stories with his music. I posted Lutie Kaviok, who definitely has a different style/approach to music but one thing I noticed in common was a description of the community’s willigness (and active encouragement!) for Nunavut artists to continue posting and preserving their voice online. Also your mention of Uyarak’s ten-day polar bear hunt with his friend was a tradition that came up in my research of Lutie’s life, who recently was able to participate in the Polar Hunt himself. It’s great to see how artists of very different ages and style inclinations are supported by their respective cultures in Nunavut and document traditions for us to observe outside of their culture! Great work on this post.
Absolutely loving Terry Uyarak’s work! His fusion of traditional Inuit music with modern styles is not only super innovative but also a fantastic way to keep Inuit culture and language alive, especially for the younger crowd. Singing in Inuktitut and incorporating traditional instruments like the qilaat brings such authenticity to his music. It’s not just about the tunes; it’s a whole cultural experience. Plus, his down-to-earth vibe and strong community ties just add to his cool factor. He’s not just a musician; he’s a cultural ambassador. Big respect for what he’s doing! 🙌🎶 #TerryUyarak #InuitCulture #MusicInnovation
It was interesting to see the difference between your artist and the band I chose, The Jerry Cans. Both bands publish under the same record label, but Uyarak’s music is much slower paced and melodical. The Jerry Cans’ music is much faster, and would fit better into the folk music genre, while I think Uyarak is much closer to alternative music. It is fascinating to see the variety of music that comes out of Nunavut! Well done on your review!