Writing to make songs…and pursue dreams
By Maurice Switzer
NIPISSING FIRST NATION – Susan Aglukark’s writing is most familiar to Canadians as lyrics in nine record albums that have sold half a million copies.
But more importantly, says the self-proclaimed product of “small-town Nunavut”, her writing has served her as an escape, a way to heal, and an anchor that has helped keep her grounded.
“It was never about celebrity,” Aglukark tells an attentive audience at Nbisiing Secondary School, describing how her Juno-winning musical career was more of an accident than a dream.
“The only singing I’d done was in church choirs,”says Aglukark, whose parents were both ordained ministers. “I sang because I had to!”
“I had a hard time in school — I never quit fit in.” Growing up“in the middle” of six brothers and sisters, she did a lot of poetry and journal-writing. “It was my way of getting away from challenges. It was my escape to a safe place.”
After graduating high school, Aglukark moved from Arviat to Ottawa, taking up work as an Inuktitut translator with the Inuit branch of Indian and Northern Affairs. Her boss agreed to let her put music to a poem she had written called “Searching” and use it as the soundtrack to a video of Inuit subjects called “Between Two Worlds”, which would be shown to high school students.
Someone sent the edited version to MuchMusic and Susan Aglukark’s career was born. Smash hits like “O Siem” brought Juno awards, and honourary degrees, and an Order of Canada, but also relentless pressure from her recording label to duplicate her success.
At the peak of her public acclaim, Aglukark realized that she was not in charge of her own success.
“I was coping, tagging along. At some point we have to make a choice. Wouldn’t it be better if you are in charge of your life?” she asked about 40 Nbisiing students in her audience. “In 1998 I had to decide if I really wanted to be involved.
“I started to feel confident,” she recalls, and even as her record sales dropped off she discovered “a secret”
“It’s never going to be easy. You need to fall in love with what you do.”
Now 48, Susan Aglukark does not have any chart-toppers, but still sings “O Siem” for appreciative audiences, often with husband Jacques– a recording engineer – providing all the music and video accompaniment from his sound board.
But she is using her words as more than song lyrics. They help Indigenous students – like those at Nbisiing Secondary School — realize what she did: that writing can help you overcome your challenges and achieve your dreams.
“We don’t have conversations with young people about how to pursue their dreams. The way to nurture your dream is to start talking about it, then to write about it. The point of writing is not to get it right or wrong, but to get in touch with your honesty and your feelings. And don’t be afraid to fail.”
Aglukark, whose parents were raised in igloos and tents, is teaming with
Kengjewin Teg Educational Institute (KTEI) to use the latest technology to support the dreams of First Nations high school students. Over a 12-week period she will use Skype to mentor learners in Nipissing, Constance Lake, and M’Chigeeng First Nations.
The Tuyuuti (“gift”)Teen Writing Group will meet face-to-face via computer
over lunch hour once a week until May 11th. The project’s goal is to “nurture youth to re-engage in conversation and critical thinking”.
“There’s power in telling your story – oral, written, and song,” says Carole Couillard, senior English teacher and vice-principal at Nbisiing, who helped coordinate Aglukark’s Feb. 5 visit to her school.
Aglukark and husband Jacques , who currently live in Oakville, were welcomed to Nipissing First Nation by Chief Marianna Couchie and songs by the school drum, and introduced by principal Monique Sawyer.
Student Success Director Debbie Debassige represented Kengjewin Teg Educational Institute made this event possible.