Susan Aglukark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Susan Aglukark ᓲᓴᓐ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ
Susan Aglukark at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, June 2007
Background information
Born	(1967-01-27) 27 January 1967 (age 58) Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Origin	Arviat, Nunavut, Canada
Genres	Folk, pop, country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1992–present
Labels	EMI

Susan Aglukark (born January 27, 1967) is a Canadian singer. She is famous for mixing traditional Inuit folk music with country and pop styles. This unique blend has made her a big music star in Canada. Her most popular song, "O Siem", reached number one on Canadian music charts in 1995. Susan Aglukark has released seven studio albums and has won three Juno Awards, which are major Canadian music awards.

About Susan Aglukark

Her Early Life

Susan Aglukark was born in Churchill, Manitoba. She grew up in Arviat, which is now part of Nunavut. After finishing high school, she worked in Ottawa, Ontario, as a linguist, studying languages. Later, she returned to the Northwest Territories. There, she worked as an assistant for the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, an organization that supports Inuit people.

Her Music Career

While working with the Inuit Tapirisat, Susan started singing. She quickly became very popular in Inuit communities. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) noticed her talent. They included her in a collection of songs by Arctic performers.

In 1992, she released her first independent album, Arctic Rose. The next year, she signed with a big record company. She then released an album of Christmas music.

Susan Aglukark also helps non-profit groups that work with Indigenous and Inuit youth. She leads writing workshops for young people. She also helps raise awareness about the food crisis in Northern Canada. She is proud to be a role model for Indigenous people. However, she sees herself as an artist with a message for everyone. She hopes her songs about self-respect and strength can inspire people from all backgrounds.

Breakthrough Album: This Child

In 1995, Susan released her album This Child. This album made her famous. The first song from it, "O Siem", became a number one hit in Canada. This made Susan Aglukark the first Inuk performer to have a song in the Top 40. Other songs from the album, like "Hina Na Ho (Celebration)" and "Breakin' Down", also became popular. This Child sold over 300,000 copies in Canada, earning a triple platinum award.

Later Albums and Songs

In 1999, Susan released Unsung Heroes. This album included the popular song "One Turn Deserves Another." It also featured "Turn of the Century," a song about the creation of Nunavut. Her album Big Feeling came out in 2003.

Susan's songs sometimes talk about difficult feelings. For example, "Kathy" is about her niece who passed away. She also recorded a version of "Amazing Grace" in Inuktitut, the Inuit language.

Her song "Never Be the Same" was featured on the TV show Dawson's Creek. Another song, "One Turn Deserves Another," was also used in the show. In 2013, she released her second holiday album, Dreaming of Home. Susan Aglukark lives in Oakville, Ontario, today.

Awards and Special Recognition

Susan Aglukark has received many awards and honors for her music and her work.

• In 2004, she received an honorary degree from the University of Lethbridge.
• In 2005, she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors.
• Also in 2005, she received another honorary degree from the University of Alberta.
• In 2006, she performed at the Calgary Stampede, a famous event in Alberta.
• She won two Juno Awards in 1995 for Best New Solo Artist and Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording for her album Arctic Rose.
• In 2004, she won another Juno Award for Aboriginal Recording for her album Big Feeling.
• In 2008, she was named a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the University of Alberta.
• In 2016, she received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
• The book Aboriginal Carol (2007), which she helped translate and provided music for, received a White Raven award from the International Youth Library.

Her Albums

Susan Aglukark has released several albums throughout her career:

• Dreams for You (1990)
• Arctic Rose (1992)
• Christmas (1993)
• This Child (1995) - This album was certified 3 times Platinum in Canada.
• Unsung Heroes (1999)
• Big Feeling (2003)
• Blood Red Earth (2006)
• White Sahara (2011)
• Dreaming of Home (2013)
• The Crossing (2022)

Her Singles

Some of Susan Aglukark's popular singles include:

• "Searching" (1990)
• "Little Toy Trains" (1993)
• "Song of the Land" (1994)
• "Still Running" (1994)
• "O Siem" (1995) - This song reached number 1 on Canadian charts.
• "Hina Na Ho (Celebration)" (1995)
• "Breakin' Down" (1995)
• "Shamaya" (1996)
• "Suffer in Silence" (1996)
• "One Turn Deserves Another" (1999)
• "Turn of the Century" (2000)
• "Whaler's Lullaby" (2004)
• "I Will Return" (2006)

Books She Has Written

Susan Aglukark is also an author of children's picture books. These books are based on her grandmother's childhood experiences. They show what life was like in the Arctic when traditional Inuit ways started to mix with new outside influences. The series explores feelings of excitement, loss, and strength as the Inuit world changed. Through the eyes of a little girl, young readers can learn about a special time in Arctic history.

• Una Huna?: What Is This? (2018)
• Una Huna?: Ukpik Learns to Sew (2022)

See also

In Spanish: Susan Aglukark para niños

• Music of Canada
• Aboriginal music of Canada
• Notable Aboriginal people of Canada
• List of Canadian musicians