India's induction into the Artic Council as an observer nation was celebrated with a performance by Inuit 'throat singers' from north Canada here recently.
Canadian singers Kathy Kettler and Kendra Tagoona, who perform contemporary and traditional Inuit music in the styles of throat singing, were in the city to exhibit the traditional art form native to Arctic regions.
The event was organised by the Canadian High Commission here.
"Bringing in artists from the Arctic region of Canada to India is significant in the wake of India recently assuming the status of Observer nation in the Arctic Council that consolidates Indian-Canadian ties," said Jim Nickel, Acting High Commissioner for Canada in India.
Legends say this art form of "throat singing" was traditionally used to sing babies to sleep or in games women played during the long winter nights while the men were away hunting.
Inuits are the indigenous people of Canada residing in the northern part of the world's second largest country (geographically) which remains snow-cladd throughout the year and it was here that 'Inuit Throat Singing' originated.
"In throat-singing, the goal is to try and make other person laugh, the one who stops or laughs first loses," said Kendra Tagoona who performed along with Kathy Kettler.
"It is a fun-filled game like singing that women in our region traditionally practice," she said.
Kathy Kettler and Kendra Tagoona work individually and together to preserve and share Inuit culture from Northern Canada. Both the singer say they retain strong connections to their heritage and culture through their Inuit elders, family and friends. These Inuit artists perform throat singing, drum dancing with songs, and some Inuit games.
Known to natives as 'katajjaq', throat singing is a women's traditional style of fun-filled singing from the hinterlands of the arctic region.
