Benoit Aquin
After many months of planning, fundraising and rehearsals, the OSM Nunavik Tour finally took place, as scheduled, September 11-15. This tour was part of a series of special events held in honour of the OSM’s 75th anniversary.
Avataq Cultural Institute participated in meetings with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) and the Four Host First Nations Secretariat at the beginning of July.
The Avataq Cultural Institute is presently working with communities in Nunavik on the retention of today’s Inuktitut language. This work is called the "Inuktituurniup Saturtaugasuarninga" (IS in shortened form). This project has been supported by Makivik Corporation, Kativik Regional Government, with practical assistance provided by the Kativik School Board.
In Spring 2007, Avataq Cultural Institute and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal began discussions around a Nunavik Tour. It is the express wish of musical director Maestro Kent Nagano to bring the music of the OSM to several remote Inuit communities in Nunavik as part of its touring activities.
This summer, the Avataq Cultural Institute Archaeology department will be conducting the second phase of research in Inukjuak related to the International Polar Year (IPY).
