SOAR – Arctic Rose

August 22, 2016

GlassSKY interviews national icon Susan Aglukark on receiving Canada’s highest honour in performing arts

SOAR – Arctic Rose

By Alyson Queen

 

Dr. Susan Aglukark, O.C

Susan Aglukark is one of Canada’s most unique and honoured artists, and among our most significant cultural treasures. An Inuk from Arviat, Nunavut, Susan began her musical career at 24, and embodies graceful honesty and strength in her music while candidly describing the struggles of the Inuit and Aboriginal communities. While many of her songs celebrate her rich cultural heritage, she has courageously tackled topics like suicide and abuse. Her rise is inspirational for all Canadians, particularly young women who see in Susan a hero, a survivor, a champion. She rose to the very top of Canada’s music industry as the first Aboriginal to earn a Top 40 hit, as a multi-Juno award winner, and as the recipient of Canada’s highest recognition — the Order of Canada. In June this year, she received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. We are thrilled GlassSKY caught up with Susan to discuss what this latest recognition means to her, and to hear her advice for young women.

 

GlassSKY: Congratulations on receiving this year’s Governor General’s Award for the Performing Arts – what an amazing achievement! Can you reflect on that for us?

Susan: Thank you, it was/is truly an honor receive this award. Everything about the event was humbling. I feel that I am so fortunate to have landed in the life I am living, and that such awards are always incredibly humbling.

GlassSKY: You ventured into music at 24. What took you in this direction? What were you doing before?

Susan: I feel that I more or less stumbled into the career. Before beginning the writing of the Arctic Rose album, I was working for Indian and Northern Affairs as a Communications Coordinator, with no “writing” experience or any real “creative” experience or knowledge to draw from. I did not initially approach the process as a possible career, I was simply relieved to have an outlet for the anger I had been harboring.

GlassSKY: What has been the highlight of your career and why?

Susan: The highlight has been that my career has been my healing.

GlassSKY: What new projects do you have on the horizon?

Susan: I am working on a new album hoping to have it out for late fall early 2017.

GlassSKY: You’ve always been true to your heritage from Nunavut – and have worked to honour and showcase Canada’s Indigenous peoples. Although it appears that progress is being made, can you speak to the current challenges and opportunities for our Indigenous people, from your perspective?

Susan: I have tried to be true to my Inuk heritage. I think the greatest challenge right now is creating opportunities for us to showcase our talent and to take our talent on live concert tours where artists are paid properly.

GlassSKY: GlassSKY is focused on empowering our women and girls – and we’ve heard so many stories of just how important role models and influencers can be. Who is or was the most influential person in your life, who motivated you?

Susan: My greatest motivators have always been my mother and father. They have lived through the greatest change and taught me the value of perseverance and adaptability. They have shown me the value of purpose and commitment. Without these, I would have not continued beyond my second major label album.

GlassSKY: Through SOAR, we will be including your story in a collection of remarkable women role models for young girls. What message do you have for them?

Susan: I would say to the young girls and ladies, embrace being a young lady/woman. Embrace your journey, embrace your desire or goal and the path towards it. There is nothing in this world more rewarding than looking back and saying to yourself, “I did the best I could and I am proud of what I have done.”

GlassSKY: Finally, tell us. What inspires you and your music?

Susan: I am inspired by dreamers – people who fearlessly pursue dreams and goals despite personal situation or circumstance.

This article is part of our SOAR series profiling remarkable female role models by guest writer, Alyson Queen.