Elisapie discusses album ‘Inuktitut’ and Indigenous music representation

Inuk-singer and Quebec-based musician Elisapie made her Edmonton Folk Music Festival (EFMF) debut this year. The festival brings dozens of talented artists from across the country and globe to its many stages — and Elisapie is no exception.

Elisapie explained that during the pandemic, she wanted to work on a project covering hit songs and translating them into Inuktitut. What resulted was her expansive 2023 album, Inuktitut. Some songs off the album include “Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass)” orginally by Blondie and “Qimatsilunga (I Want to Break Free)” by Queen.

This project is something Elisapie had in mind for a while, originally thinking it would be “nice, simple, easy going.” However, once she started, she discovered that there were more emotional layers to the songs than she realized. The songs that made it onto the album are not only popular hits — they sparked an emotional response for Elisapie.

“I realized a lot of them were bringing me to a certain time, certain place and with a certain person or certain people close to me,” Elisapie said.

While translating, she realized that the songs were almost the soundtrack to the traumatic experience of Inuit “nomads being forced to settle down.” She described how when translating the songs, she felt like she had already heard them in her own language. Additionally, she felt that this emphasized the songs’ closeness to her.

“I realized that each song told a story. So not only did I translate them, but I really decided to make them my own and use those songs to tell a story.”

There’s more work to do in recognizing Indigenous acts, Elisapie explains

Elisapie won the 2024 JUNO award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year. Inuktitut was on the shortlist for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize. While she was grateful to receive the JUNO award, Elisapie expressed how the JUNO’s are intended to showcase mainstream artists.  

“It’s nice to get an awareness, but I think there’s so much still a lot of work to do in order to really start seeing Indigenous acts, not just this particular thing. I think for people it’s complicated to hear another language that is not English.”

While these awards are still impactful for Elisapie, she described how just knowing that people understand the album is meaningful.

“It’s just knowing that people get it. People understood what the project is about. [It’s] such a relief for me.”

She also highlights how important it is for Indigenous children to hear the songs. Especially songs in “their own language.”

“It’s very beautiful to hear kids speak [and] sing. You see the eyes are so vivid and smiling. I think it really means something for them,” she explained. 

Elisapie featured on Canada Post stamp

In June of 2024, Canada Post issued a series of stamps that paid tribute to Indigenous leaders. Elisapie was featured as one of three faces on the stamps. 

While Elisapie mentioned how she didn’t look at the stamp much, she recognized what a big deal it is.

“It’s important for my little kings and queens of the north to see someone from their home, just as a reminder that we are meant to shine. We are meant to be seen and heard,” she explained. 

Overall, Elisapie expressed how she wants to tell stories through her music. 

“I’m not just making music, I’m trying to tell the story. I’m trying to get people to connect to one another.”

In terms of upcoming projects, Elisapie is planning to write new music this upcoming winter. Additionally, she has plans for producing television content for Indigenous Day in Quebec.

Elisapie recounted how “lovely” it is to perform at EFMF, and how nice it is to “get back into the world of folk festival.”

— With files from Dylana Twittey