Elisapie

Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie creates deeply personal and highly expressive music that, at its core, reflects her commitment to preserving her homeland and Indigenous language.

She grew up in Salluit, a small village in Nunavik above Quebec. Now based in Tiohtià:ke or Montreal, she is part of the city’s vibrant folk and indie scene.

Drawing heavily on her Northern culture in her art and activism, Elisapie is making it her mission to help revitalize the Inuktitut language. In 2023, Elisapie released Inuktitut, covering 10 classic rock and pop songs from the ‘60s to the ‘90s, all sung in her traditional language. Her dreamy interpretation of timeless anthems such as “Time After Time”, “Heart of Glass”, and “Wild Horses” are steeped in bittersweet nostalgia. All translated by Elisapie, the songs provide a familiar sound bridge to introduce the Inuktitut language to audiences around the world.

In 2024, Elisapie was recognized as the JUNO Awards’ Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year and Inuktitut picked up the Adult Alternative Album of the Year award at this year’s ceremony. Her 2018 album, The Ballad of the Runaway Girl was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize and earned her numerous Félix Awards.

– ZQ