Shina Novalinga facts for kids

Shina Novalinga (born in 1998) is an Inuk (which means she is from the Inuit people) social media star, singer, and activist. She became famous by sharing videos of herself and her mother doing Inuit throat singing on TikTok and Instagram. Her mother has been a professional throat singer for many years. Shina learned to love throat singing from her mother. She wanted to share her culture with people who didn't know about it. This is why she started making videos online. As of April 2024, she has over 4 million followers on TikTok and 2 million on Instagram.

Early Life and Learning

Shina Novalinga was born on June 30, 1998. Her mother, Caroline (Kayuula) Novalinga, is a professional throat singer. Shina was born in Puvirnituq, Nunavik, Canada. When she was four years old, her family moved to Montreal. Shina says she is half Inuk and half Quebecoise (from Quebec). She learned to speak Inuktitut from her mother. She also started throat singing with her mother when she was seven. Shina has a younger sister named Catherine Lizotte.

In spring 2021, Shina finished her business management degree. She studied at John Abbott College in Quebec. In fall 2021, she began a one-year program. This program was about Inuit Studies at Nunavik Sivunitsavut in Montreal.

Understanding Throat Singing

Inuit throat singing is a special cultural practice. It became very rare after Christian missionaries stopped the songs. They called them "Satanic" in the early 1900s. In Puvirnituq, Shina's mother, Carolina Novalinga, was one of four Inuit women. They were taught this practice to pass it on to younger people.

This singing game was traditionally played by Inuit women. They would play it when they were bored in their igloos. This was because the men were often away on long hunting trips. To help pass the long, cold winters, this game was played. It was a fun way to share their culture.

In traditional Inuit throat singing, two women usually stand facing each other. They sometimes rock side to side and bounce a little while singing. One person leads with a rhythmic sound. The other person responds. This makes the game enjoyable and important. The singing can last for many minutes. It might stop when one person runs out of breath. Or it might stop because they start laughing at each other. It was almost like a friendly competition. The person who "won" a round would face a new challenger. This would continue until the women wanted to stop for the day. Shina says that her community welcomes anyone who wants to try this skill. Each song has its own special meaning. Some songs copy the sounds of animals and nature. It uses many different sounds and ways of breathing. For example, some songs need careful control of airflow. Others are higher pitched.

Shina first shared a video of herself throat singing on TikTok in March 2020. She has posted many more videos since then. In her videos, Shina faces her mother, Carolina. They hug and sing in a matching rhythm. They use their throat, belly, and diaphragm (a muscle for breathing). Their videos often end with them stopping the song and laughing. This is how the game is usually played. Shina often talks about how important throat singing is. It helps her connect with her mother and with Inuit culture.

Throat singing is important in our culture because it had almost been a lost tradition due to missionaries. We are now taking it back and passing it down to keep it alive. Throat singing allows us to connect with the sound of nature and the animals. It also allows us to connect with our ancestors, our soul and our voice. The connection between my mother and I grows bigger as we throat sing together. It's always a beautiful moment for us.

In June 2021, Shina released an album. It was with her mother and Canadian producer Simon Walls. The album is called Mother and Daughter Throatsinging.

Fashion and Culture

Shina Novalinga also uses her online presence to show off traditional Inuit clothing. She loves to model clothes handmade by her mother, Caroline. These clothes are made with local furs and animal skins. They include the atigik (a type of parka), earrings, paaluk (mittens), nasaks (hats), and kamiks (boots).

In 2021, Shina modeled for a Sephora advertisement. This campaign featured only Indigenous people as cast and crew. It celebrated Canada's National Indigenous History Month. In 2022, she was featured in Elle Canada magazine. She modeled designs by Inuk designer Victoria Kakuktinniq.

Speaking Up for Indigenous Rights

Shina Novalinga often talks about her wish to teach others about Inuit culture and history. She often adds "Indigenous twists" to popular trends on TikTok. This is a way for her to share her culture. She has also worked with Cree creators. These include hoop dancer James Jones and model Michelle Chubb.

Shina has also made videos to highlight important issues. She has talked about the difficult history of residential schools. These schools tried to make Indigenous children forget their culture. She also speaks about missing and murdered Indigenous women. In summer 2021, she posted many videos reacting to the 2021 Canadian Indian residential schools gravesite discoveries. These discoveries were about unmarked graves at former residential schools.

Shina has also used her platform to help charities. In December 2020, she raised over $12,000. This money went to a shelter for Indigenous women in Quebec.

Music Albums