Shina Novalinga facts for kids

Shina Novalinga, born in 1998, is an Inuk social media star, singer, and activist. She became famous by sharing videos of herself and her mother performing 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 July 2025, 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. She learned to speak Inuktitut from her mother. She also began throat singing with her mother's help when she was seven. Shina has a younger sister named Catherine Lizotte.

In the spring of 2021, Shina finished her business management degree. She graduated from John Abbott College in Quebec. In the fall of 2021, she started a special program. It was a one-year course in Inuit Studies at Nunavik Sivunitsavut in Montreal.

The Art of Throat Singing

Inuit throat singing is a very old cultural practice. It almost disappeared after Christian missionaries banned it in the early 1900s. They thought the songs were "Satanic." In Puvirnituq, Shina's mother, Carolina Novalinga, was one of only four Inuit women who learned this skill. They wanted to pass it on to younger generations.

This singing tradition started as a game played by Inuit women. They would play it when they were bored in their igloos. The men were often away on long hunting trips. This game helped them pass the long, cold winters. It was a fun way to express their culture.

In traditional Inuit throat singing, two women usually stand facing each other. They might gently rock side to side and bounce a little while singing. One person leads with a rhythmic pattern. The other person responds. This makes the game enjoyable and important. A song can last for many minutes. It might end when one person runs out of breath. Or it might end because they start laughing while looking at each other.

It's almost like a friendly competition. The person who "wins" a round would then face a new challenger. This would continue until the women decided to stop for the day. Shina shares that her community welcomes anyone who wants to learn and practice this skill. Each song has its own special meaning. Some songs copy the sounds of animals and nature. Throat singing uses many different sounds and airflows. For example, some songs need careful control of breath. Others are higher pitched.

Shina first shared a video of herself throat singing in March 2020 on TikTok. Since then, she has posted many more. Her throat singing videos show her facing her mother, Carolina. They hug and sing in a matched rhythm. They use their throats, bellies, and diaphragms. The 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. It also helps her connect with Inuit culture. She has said:

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 and her mother released an album. It was called Mother and Daughter Throatsinging. They worked with Canadian producer Simon Walls on it.

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 actors 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 frequently adds "Indigenous twists" to popular trends on TikTok. This is her way of sharing her culture. She has 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 drawn attention to the difficult history of residential schools. These schools tried to force Indigenous children to give up their culture. She also speaks about missing and murdered Indigenous women. In the summer of 2021, she posted many videos reacting to the 2021 Canadian Indian residential schools gravesite discoveries.

Shina has used her platform to help various charities. In December 2020, she raised over $12,000. This money went to an Indigenous women's shelter in Quebec.

Music Albums