Suurimmaanitchuat Dancers
Drum dancing has always been a part of my culture; I grew up watching it and listening to it. I had a feel for it even before I started to practice. One year, when we had the Northern Games in Inuvik, a contingent came from Utqiaġvik, to participate. I watched the Suu rim ma an itchu at Dancers perform from the side of the stage, and I still remember watching one young fellow; he must have been about 10 years old. I couldn’t stop watching the way that he was moving and keeping up with the beat. You could tell his love for the dance was really strong and the passion he had was very moving. Watching that young boy moved me and inspired me to dance like him. I attended the first practice of the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers after the Northern Games ended that year and have been dancing ever since. There are a few people who continue to influence my dancing, especially my uncle Roy Ipana, who was really important to me and to this town. He had a true passion for his culture—I seem to follow that. Drum dancing makes me feel like I have been accomplishing something for my culture. I’m still learning, but I’ll never stop learning. –