Susan Aglukark
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| Susan Aglukark | |
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 Susan Aglukark at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, June 2007
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| Background information | |
| Born | 27 January 1967 Churchill, Manitoba |
| Origin | Arviat, Nunavut |
| Genre(s) | Folk Pop Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1992 – Present |
| Label(s) | EMI |
| Website | www.susanaglukark.com |
Susan Aglukark, OC (Inuktitut syllabics: ᓲᓴᓐ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ), (born 27 January 1967[1]) is an Inuk musician whose blend of Inuit folk music traditions with country and pop songwriting has made her a major recording star in Canada. Her most successful single is "O Siem", which reached #1 on the Canadian country and adult contemporary charts in 1995. Overall, she has released seven studio albums and has won two Juno Awards.
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[edit] Early life
Aglukark was born in Churchill, Manitoba and raised in Arviat, Northwest Territories (now in Nunavut). After graduating high school, she worked in Ottawa, Ontario as a linguist with the Department of Indian & Northern Affairs, and then returned to the Northwest Territories to work as an executive assistant with the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada.[2]
While working with the Inuit Tapirisat, she began to perform as a singer, and quickly became a popular performer in Inuit communities. She soon attracted the attention of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, who included her in a compilation of Arctic performers. In 1992, she released an independent album, Arctic Rose. The following year, she signed to a major record label, releasing an album of Christmas music that year.[2]
[edit] Breakthrough
This Child, released in 1995, became her breakthrough album. The first single from that album, "O Siem," went to number one on the Canadian adult contemporary and country charts that year, making Aglukark the first Inuk performer to have a Top 40 hit. "Hina Na Ho (Celebration)" and "Breakin' Down" became hit singles as well. The album was eventually certified triple platinum (300,000 copies sold) in Canada.
In 2000, Aglukark released Unsung Heroes, which spawned another pop hit with "One Turn Deserves Another." This album also included "Turn of the Century," a song about the creation of Nunavut. In 2004, she released Big Feeling.
She sometimes deals with painful subjects in her songs. "Kathy" is about her niece who committed suicide, and "Still Running" is about the trauma of sexual abuse. Aglukark has also recorded a version of "Amazing Grace" in Inuktitut.
Her song "Never Be the Same" was featured on Dawson's Creek in Episode #3-14 ("Valentine's Day Massacre"), as well as her song "One Turn Deserves Another" in Episode #3-15 ("Crime And Punishment").
Aglukark has also acted as spokesperson for several non-profit groups working with aboriginal and Inuit youth, and has said that while she is proud to be a role model for aboriginal people in Canada, she ultimately sees herself as an artist with a universal message of self-respect and strength to which she hopes that people of all cultural backgrounds can relate.
In 2004, Aglukark was awarded an honorary DFA from the University of Lethbridge. She was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 2005, and in the same year received an honorary LL.D. degree from the University of Alberta. In the summer of 2006, she performed nightly in the evening grandstand show at the Calgary Stampede.
She currently resides in Oakville, Ontario.[3]
[edit] Awards and recognition
- 1995: winner, Juno Awards for Best New Solo Artist and Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording, Arctic Rose[4]
- 1996: nominee, Juno Awards for Best Female Vocalist, Best Album (This Child), Single of the Year ("O Siem"), Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording (This Child), Best Video ("O Siem")[4]
- 2001: nominee, Juno Award for Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording, Unsung Heroes[4]
- 2004: winner, Juno Award for Aboriginal Recording, Big Feeling[4]
- 2004: appointed Officer of the Order of Canada[5]
- 2007: nominee, Juno Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year, Blood Red Earth[4]
- 2008: appointed as Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the University of Alberta[6]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | CRIA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country | CAN | |||
| 1990 | Dreams for You | |||
| 1992 | Arctic Rose | |||
| 1993 | Christmas | |||
| 1995 | This Child | 1 | 25 | 3× Platinum |
| 2000 | Unsung Heroes | |||
| 2004 | Big Feeling | |||
| 2006 | Blood Red Earth | |||
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country | CAN AC | CAN | |||
| 1990 | "Searching" | — | — | — | Dreams for You |
| 1993 | "Little Toy Trains" | — | — | — | Christmas |
| 1994 | "Song of the Land" | 31 | 4 | 55 | Arctic Rose |
| "Still Running" | — | 17 | — | ||
| 1995 | "O Siem" | 1 | 1 | 3 | This Child |
| "Hina Na Ho (Celebration)" | 19 | 3 | 30 | ||
| "Breakin' Down" | — | 10 | 32 | ||
| 1996 | "Shamaya" | 38 | — | 71 | |
| "Suffer in Silence" | — | — | — | ||
| 1999 | "One Turn Deserves Another" | — | 19 | — | Unsung Heroes |
| 2000 | "Turn of the Century" | — | 55 | — | |
| 2004 | "Whaler's Lullaby" | — | — | — | Big Feeling |
| 2006 | "I Will Return" | — | — | — | Blood Red Earth |
[edit] References
- ^ Famous Canadian Women ISBN 0-9736246-0-4
- ^ a b "Susan Aglukark - A Leading Voice in Canadian Music". First Nations Drum. http://www.firstnationsdrum.com/biography/wint00_aglukark.htm. Retrieved on 2008-09-09.
- ^ "Susan Aglukark Biography". shopEMI. http://www.shopemi.com/bio.asp?artist_id=25. Retrieved on 2008-09-09.
- ^ a b c d e "Juno Awards Artist Summary - Susan Aglukark". Juno Awards. Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. http://www.junoawards.ca/archive_past.php. Retrieved on 2008-09-09.
- ^ "Susan Aglukark, O.C., LL.D.". Governor General of Canada. Government of Canada. 2005-09-27. http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=9771. Retrieved on 2008-09-09.
- ^ "Aglukark to mentor aboriginal students at University of Alberta". CBC News (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). 2008-06-03. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2008/06/03/aglukark-ualta.html. Retrieved on 2008-09-10.
