Kelly Fraser facts for kids

Kelly Fraser (born August 8, 1993 – died December 24, 2019) was a talented Canadian Inuk pop singer and songwriter. She became famous for her music, which blended modern pop with traditional Inuit sounds. Her second album, Sedna, was even nominated for a Juno Award in 2018. This award is one of Canada's biggest music honors. Kelly used her songs to share important messages about Inuit culture and rights.

Kelly Fraser's Life and Music Journey

Kelly Fraser was born in Igloolik, a community in Nunavut, Canada. When she was young, her family moved to Sanikiluaq, another place in Nunavut. She later studied at Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa. This program is Canada's oldest and first post-secondary school for Inuit youth. There, students learn about the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, which is an important agreement about Inuit land rights. Kelly also completed an Indigenous studies program in British Columbia.

How Kelly Became Famous

Kelly first got a lot of attention in 2013. She posted videos on YouTube where she sang popular songs in Inuktitut, the Inuit language. One of her most famous covers was Rihanna's song "Diamonds".

In 2014, Kelly released her first album, called Isuma. Her songs often included both Inuktitut and English words. Musically, she mixed modern pop styles with traditional Inuit sounds. Kelly was very dedicated to sharing Inuit culture with many people. She also wanted to raise awareness about important issues and rights for Inuit people. These themes were a big part of her music.

Kelly was working on a new album called Decolonize when she passed away. She was raising money to help make this album.

Kelly's Passing

Kelly Fraser sadly passed away at her home in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on December 24, 2019. After her passing, many people held special gatherings to remember her. These vigils took place in places like The Forks in Winnipeg and at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in British Columbia.

Kelly Fraser's Albums

Isuma

Kelly Fraser's first album, Isuma, came out in June 2014. She recorded it with her bandmates from Sanikiluaq. The album had seven original songs and three cover songs. The word Isuma means 'think' in Inuktitut.

Sedna

Her second album, Sedna, was released on February 25, 2017. It was put out by Hitmakerz, a record label from Nunavut. The album's title, Sedna, comes from a very old Inuit story. Sedna is known as the Inuit goddess of the sea. Kelly decided to tell this ancient story in a modern way through her music.

Kelly explained that her goal for the album was to help people heal from the effects of colonization. This includes the lasting impacts of things like the residential school system and forced relocation of Inuit people. She believed it was important for Inuit artists to speak directly to those who were affected by these past events.

The Sedna album also included a song called 'Fight for the Right'. This song was part of a campaign during the 2016 Nunavut municipal land referendum. This referendum asked voters if they would allow their local government to sell municipal lands.