The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday May 13, 2006 - 3

■ By Wilma Blokhuis returned to her independent roots to release OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Blood Red Earth. “I felt it was time for me to do my own Moving forward thing,” she mused. It was recorded at Inception Susan Aglukark is moving in a new direc- Sound Studios in Toronto, and the singer has tion…evolving…blossoming. taken the release on the road. Her first concert Her music is giving way to motivational to promote the new CD was on April 23 at the speaking. She has much to say and delivers her Canadian Museum of Civilization in . poignant message in both words and music and That was quickly followed by speaking engage- often combines the two for an inspiring new ments in Manitoba. presentation. Aglukark, who is happily married and has a However, the recording star who calls nine-year-old son, Cameron, admits she’s on Oakville home, is not giving up on her career as the road at lot. When home, she devotes her a singer, having just released Blood Red Earth, time to her husband and son. her sixth CD. The family moved to Oakville during the late Born in Churchill, Manitoba, and raised in 1990s just before Cameron started school, , – now in choosing to live here “because my husband’s — Aglukark, honed her musical skills while family is from Oakville.” Aglukark moved to working with church youth groups in her com- Toronto in 1994 shortly after signing her record munity. deal. Aglukark, daughter of David Aglukark, a She’s performed for Queen Elizabeth – Pentecostal minister in Arviat who ran unsuc- twice, former Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien cessfully in the last federal election, grew up and Brian Mulroney, President Jacques Chirac singing hymns and playing guitar in church. of France, Nelson Mandela, former Governor- She is the middle child of seven. General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson and the An Inuk with a powerful clear voice, she Oakville Waterfront Festival. sings in English and her native . Those lucky enough to have heard her beau- Her music, inspired by her life in Canada’s tiful clear lilting voice during her afternoon Arctic, combines Inuk folklore with contempo- warm-up in preparation for that evening’s con- rary pop with spiritual, evocative, and emotion- cert 10 years ago were in for real treat – a bonus ally charged honest lyrics. concert. She was discovered by CBC Radio, which The artist draws her audience in with recorded her first release, Dreams for You, as a poignant words about growing up in the Arctic, non-commercial project, in 1991. By this time, about aboriginal life and the tragedies of dis- Aglukark had already moved to Ottawa to work ease, poverty, physical abuse, alcoholism and as a linguist for the Department of Indian and drug abuse that plague so many native com- Northern Affairs Canada and later with the munities. Aglukark speaks to the aboriginal Tapirisat of Canada, a lobby group for communities from the heart, having experi- Inuit people, leaving in late 1993 to focus on enced these tragedies, offering a message of her singing career. hope to aboriginal youth. “As a preacher’s kid you don’t often have the She does not elaborate about her experi- choice – you sing in church,” said Aglukark in ences. “I’ve put it behind me and have moved explaining how her singing career started. “My on. I mention it only in my motivational singing career started after I left home to work speeches in the aboriginal communities. These as a linguist, and shortly after leaving Ottawa it memories have found their way into some of really started to happen.” her earlier songs. She was a youth worker at her church in “My motivational speaking grew out of my Arviat. “My youth group gathered every Friday song writing,” said Aglukark. “My focus is social night and the main attraction was the music. issues facing aboriginal youth, Inuit issues and My singing and songwriting career started after TAKING ON NEW CHALLENGES: Singer Susan Aglukark is a Juno-Award winning aboriginal culture. There are a lot of social the CBC North compilation. Before that, I was singer who is ready to turn her talents to new challenges. issues caused by problems of isolation. Youth not a songwriter. I had already moved to Ottawa restlessness creates problems of substance and when the CBC reached me.” temporary music charts in 1995. Another hit Her repertoire includes Turn of the physical abuse. Aglukark stepped out into the Canadian from that CD, Hina Na Ho (Celebration), led to Century about the creation of Nunavut in “I am a victim of child sexual abuse,” she music scene with her independent CD release five Juno nominations for the singer the fol- April 1999, Cathy, a song about friend who continued, “and I’ve written frankly about for Arctic Rose in 1993. lowing year. committed suicide, Never Be The Same about Arctic Rose. It’s allowed me to work with abo- That year, Aglukark was picked up by a Aglukark has won three Junos for her music victims of tuberculosis who were taken from riginal communities and to work especially major label which quickly released her and is the recipient of the first ever Aboriginal their native homes and sent to urban hospi- with victims.” Christmas CD, re-released Arctic Rose in 1994 Achievement Award in Arts and Entertainment tals to die, E186, a solemn commentary of a Aglukark also has a new speaking and and followed up with This Child, (1995) about and the Canadian Country Music Association’s government policy where Inuit people were singing presentation about “sharing my growth her childhood years, Unsung Heroes (2000) Vista Rising Star Award in 1994 for Arctic Rose. identified with dog tags during the 1930s, as an artist and a woman over the last five to six about the Inuk woman finding her place in the Her music video, Searching, was a winner at (For the Love of) Germaine about her great, years, how many career has empowered me as world and Big Feeling (2004). These CDs have the Canadian Music Video Awards and became great grandmother and Red Velvet Angel deal- a woman and that I feel more comfortable as a combined sales of more than 400,000 copies. popular on MuchMusic. She was named an ing with problems facing many aboriginal woman and artist.” O Siem, the first single from This Child, Officer in the Order of Canada in 2005, “a huge women. She will speak and sing at the 10th annual rocketed Aglukark to No. 1 on the adult con- surprise.” Aglukark left the recording label and ATHENA Awards gala dinner in October. The One. The Only. NEXT COURSES: JUNE 3, 4, 10, 11 Sat. & Sun. 9:30am-4:15pm • 2 Weeks 235 Lakeshore Road East at Dunn (905) 845-7