Canada: Music of the Inuit - The Copper Eskimo Tradition

Various Artists

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The Inuit of the Canadian Northwest Territories, sometimes known as Copper Eskimos, follow two seasonal social patterns: hunting with families in the summer, and gathering for trade and intense spiritual activities with large communities in the winter. Traditionally, when these groups reunited at the start of the long, dark winter, they exchanged songs. Each person is believed to be a composer and performer; each song is a gift to be reciprocated, and the sharing of songs and dances was a way to strengthen the social fabric. Many songs on this album are about hunting, but it was forbidden to exchange songs whilehunting, or even while outdoors. The Inuit believed that under an open sky, “a spirit could steal the words and by seizing the breath of the singer, rob him of his life.”

Track Listing

101	Three connected songs	Jean Oqhena / Frank Kuptana	8:18
102	Two connected songs	Frank Kuptana	6:10
103	Joy	Jimmy Memorana	1:01
104	The boat of the "Big Brows"	Jimmy Memorana	1:09
105	My song	Jimmy Memorana	0:39
106	Song of Minto inlet	Jimmy Memorana	0:50
107	Two dances from the Mackenzie Delta	The Mackenzie Delta drummers and dancers	1:07
108	Dance from the Mackenzie Delta	The Mackenzie Delta drummers and dancers	1:02
109	Two connected songs	William Qagyun, Frank Kuptana	5:29
110	I am happy	Jimmy Memorana	0:52
111	Boundless joy	Jimmy Memorana	0:43
112	Coffee, tea and jam	Jimmy Memorana	0:54
113	Two connected songs	Jean Oqhena	4:09
114	Agnes Nanogak's song	Agnes Nanogak	0:40
115	Birth of earthworms	Agnes Nanogak	0:56
116	The song floats up within me	Jean Oqhena, William Qagyun	3:28

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Canada: Music of the Inuit - The Copper Eskimo Tradition

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