India's induction into the Arctic Council as an observer nation was celebrated with a performance by Inuit 'throat singers' from north Canada here recently.
Canadian singers Kathy Kettler and Kendra Tagoona, who perform contemporary and traditional Inuit music in the styles of throat singing, were in the city to exhibit the traditional art form native to Arctic regions.The event was organised by the Canadian High Commission here.
‘Bringing in artists from the Arctic region of Canada to India is significant in the wake of India recently assuming the status of Observer nation in the Arctic Council that consolidates Indian-Canadian ties,’ said Jim Nickel, Acting High Commissioner for Canada in India.
Legends say this art form of ‘throat singing’ was traditionally used to sing babies to sleep or in games women played during the long winter nights while the men were away hunting.
Inuits are the indigenous people of Canada residing in the northern part of the world's second largest country (geographically) which remains snow-clad throughout the year and it was here that 'Inuit Throat Singing' originated.
Kathy Kettler and Kendra Tagoona work individually and together to preserve and share Inuit culture from Northern Canada. Both the singer say they retain strong connections to their heritage and culture through their Inuit elders.
Known to natives as 'katajjaq', throat singing is a women's traditional style of fun-filled singing from the hinterlands of the arctic region.‘India and Canada have ties since 1947 and the countries have time and again lent support to each other at various fronts. One out of 30 people in Canada is an Indian and Canada is also a diverse nation like India. The performance is an endeavour to exhibit the cultural diversity that exists in Canada,’ Nickel said.