Episode 7: Saanginiiniq Qalunaanimiutauluni
Episode 7: Saanginiiniq Qalunaanimiutauluni
In Episode 7, Doris invites Inuk Elder Naulaq LeDrew to the table in an episode titled Saanginiiniq Qalunaanimiutauluni. In Inuktituut, the title translates to ‘being strong in the urban setting’, which speaks to how she maintains her Inuit way of knowing and being despite having lived away from her homeland for many years. Naulaq is an artist and an avid storyteller and shares about her upbringing and her deep connection to the land and to her Inuit culture. From stories about the importance of food gathering on the land as part of survival to sharing about how throat singing reflects the sounds of the land, animals and water, but more importantly, she tells us that throat singing was for the babies who were carried in the amautis that Inuit women wear to carry their babies. She finishes with the powerful story of Sedna and highlights why these stories were told.
Naulaq LeDrew
Naulaq LeDrew was born & raised in Apex Hill, Nunavut. Naulaq is Inuk and was brought up with 8 siblings and many cousins. During her formative years in Apex Hill, Naulaq learned from her family how to live traditionally, developing a deep respect for the land and all that it provides that is grounded in Inuit knowledge and understandings. Naulaq has supported the Urban Inuit community in Toronto for many years and has been elected to be an Inuit community knowledge keeper. As part of her responsibilities in community, Naulaq has presented at universities and symposiums on the topic of Inuit well being, has provided ceremonial openings for organizations and has served lightening qulliq (oil lamp) for Ontario's Ministers.
Her favourite pastime is sewing seal skin and creating art & crafts that celebrate her Inuk heritage. Naulaq is happily married to Randall LeDrew, and between them they have 7 children and grandchildren.
Transcript
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the following for their contributions towards Episode 7 of Indigenous Sexual Futures
Special Guest(s)
Naulaq LeDrew – Inuk (Apex Hill)
Host Storyteller/Producer
Doris Peltier
Technical Producer
Paula Burrows - Jupiter Productions
ISF Theme Music and Creative Sound
Cozmic Cat, Classic Roots, Elder Gayle Pruden
Indigenous Knowledge Advisory
Feast Centre Council of Elders and Gathering Lodge Committee
Executive Producer
Feast Centre - Randall Jackson
Feast Centre Staff
Will Gooding (National Director), Doris Peltier (Community Engagement Coordinator), Jordan Carrier (Research Assistant)
Podcast Branding Design
Compassion Creative
Podcast Web Development
Catherine Booker
We acknowledge our funders:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Indigenous Sexual Futures is produced on the ancestral lands of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations within the lands protected by the “Dish with One Spoon” wampum. We acknowledge the ancestors of this territory, and we also acknowledge the lands and territories of all our guests.