Christmas Craft Fair in Inuvik

The Great Northern Arts Festival held its Annual Christmas Craft Fair in Inuvik Nov 25-27. Our host Margaret Elias and ICS's Tunnganarniq Show crew was on the scene and spoke with a few of the local Inuvialuit artists at the event! Following this, please enjoy some singing from Ulukhaktok Elders, as well as Inuvialuktun Christmas Carols sung at the Igloo Church in Inuvik. Last but not least, learn the season's greetings in all three Inuvialuktun dialects with Lillian Elias, Susan Peffer, Beverly Amos, and Shirley Elias!

Albert is originally from Tuktoyaktuk and Shirley is originally from Ulukhaktok.

They moved to Inuvik and have been living in the Beaufort Delta since they got married in 1971.

Both elders are currently active in their Inuvaluktun traditional oral history and storytelling.

Lillian Elias was born in 1943 in the Mackenzie Delta to George and Martha Harry. Despite attending residential school, she was determined, even as a child, to keep her language. She has dedicated her career and life's purpose to preserving, teaching, and revitalizing Uummarmiutun. She is a teacher, translator, interpreter, and drum dancer! She is a recipient of the Minister's Cultural Circle Award (2012), Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), and the Order of the Northwest Territories (2018). Lillian loves to sit and tell stories and teach her language.