Birthday Song Contest Winners Announced

Iqaluit, Nunavut (July 10, 2012) – Nunavut officially has a new Inuktitut birthday song. The Minister of Languages is pleased to announce today the winners of the Nunavut-wide Inuktitut birthday song writing contest on the19th anniversary of the signing of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.

“Songs play an important part in promoting Inuit identity, culture and language,” said James Arreak, Minister of Languages. “I am pleased by the enthusiasm of Nunavummiut in participating in this great birthday song writing contest.”

The Department of Culture and Heritage received a total of 42 submissions from which a panel of judges selected the top ten best songs in Inuktitut. From these, the first, second and third place songs were chosen based on their originality, creativity, melody and lyrics.The first prize winner, Looee Arreak, will receive $3,500; second place winner, Andrew Morrison, will receive $2,500 and; third place winner Helena Bolt will receive $1,500. The remaining 7 runners-up will receive consolation prizes. The top ten songs will be professionally recorded and distributed to Nunavut communities.

The Inuit Language Protection Act recognizes the importance of the Inuit Language for its cultural significance as an ongoing expression of Inuit identity in both Nunavut and in the wider circumpolar world. The Nunavut birthday song writing contest is the most recent example of the Act’s affirmation that positive action is necessary to protect and promote Inuit language and cultural expression in Nunavut.

To listen to the new Inuktitut birthday song at: http://tinyurl.com/6topog5

For more information, please visit http://www.cley.gov.nu.ca/

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Media Contact:
Leevede Atagoyuk
Senior Manager of Communications and Media Relations
Department of Culture and Heritage
Tel: (867) 975-5526
Email: LAtagoyuk@gov.nu.ca

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