This year QIA celebrated Inuktitut Language Month this February with a slew of campaigns and events including an Inuktitut song and poem contest.

Our selection committee was blown away by the amazing submissions we received from all over Qikiqtani. They were particularly impressed by the number of young people who sent us their work.

Leetia Kalluk was the winner of the $400 cash prize.

The winner of the contest who took home the $400 cash prize was 18-year-old Leetia Kalluk from Arctic Bay who is currently in Ottawa studying at Nunavut Sivuniksavut.Leetia’s sweet song about love and longing made a huge impression on our selection committee. You can listen to her submission on QIA’s SoundCloud.

The second prize winner of the $300 cash prize was  21-year-old Jerry Laisa originally from Pangnirtung but currently living in Iqaluit. His song of heartbreak was an instant hit among our selection committee members who were also charmed by the homemade video he submitted on Facebook.

Our youngest winner of the $200 third prize was 14-year-old Ben Qaqqasiq also from Pangnirtung. Ben who is still in high school is an accomplished accordion and piano player who performed at last year’s Alianait Arts Festival. Ben submitted a life affirming poem via Twitter. Our committee was impressed with the sophistication of this work, particularly given Ben’s age.