Celebration, revolution as Pan-Arctic Vision rocks Iqaluit

By Jeff Pelletier, Nunatsiaq News December 1, 2025
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Nine circumpolar musical acts compete for three prizes

Laakkuluk Williamson, left, awards Ekaterina Savvinova, who performs as Saina, with a plaque after she won Most Arctic Song at the Pan-Arctic Vision contest. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

It was a night of celebration with a hint of revolution in Iqaluit Saturday as Pan-Arctic Vision rocked Iqaluit.

Nine performers, each representing a different Arctic region, wowed the audience at the cadet hall with their musical performances.

Three prizes that were up for grabs for the best acts, which were voted on by both the in-person crowd and those who tuned into the broadcast online from locations such as Greenland, Alaska and Norway.

“Unbelievable,” was how Ekaterina Savvinova, who performs as Saina, described winning the prize for  the Most Arctic Song.

Hailing from Yakutsk in eastern Russia, Saina’s performance mixed throat singing, drumming and singing through a mouth harp.

Geðbrigði, a four-piece punk band from Iceland, took home the prize for Most Revolutionary Song with a rocking and scream-infused performance.

Linus Johnsen, who is from Sápmi Region in northern Norway, won the prize for “song that gives the most feeling of community and togetherness.”

One of the warmest receptions any of the artists received Saturday was for Shauna Seeteenak.

Originally from Baker Lake and now living in Iqaluit, Seeteenak was Nunavut’s representative performer at the event after being selected during the Alianait Arts Festival earlier this year.

She delivered a moving rap performance, highlighting issues such as suicide, mental health and addiction.

Iqaluit artist Laakkuluk Williamson emceed the event, which featured the consistent light of a qulliq, tended to by Naja Pearce.

Beyond the nine competitors’ performances, there were some bonus performances at the end, including a throat singing duo made up of Nancy Mike and Ivaluarjuk Kathleen Merritt, as well as a drum and singing performance by the Inuksuk Drum Dancers.

Also, all nine acts from the main show got together on stage for a closing group performance.

Pan-Arctic Vision will not return to Iqaluit next year. An audience vote resulted in the Faroe Islands being selected for the next event.

“It was so nice to see the community of Iqaluit showing up and embracing the musicians, embracing the event,” said Amund Sjølie Sveen, Pan-Arctic Vision’s director.

The Inuksuk Drum Dancers perform lat Pan-Arctic Vision in Iqaluit Saturday. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Sweden’s NTÏV performs Saturday at Pan-Arctic Vision in Iqaluit. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Alaska’s Quinn Christopherson performs at Pan-Arctic Vision Saturday in Iqaluit. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Rapper Shauna Seeteenak performs at Pan-Arctic Vision in Iqaluit Saturday. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Pan-Arctic Vision director Amund Sjølie Sveen gives a speech on the organization’s revolutionary theme Saturday at the cadet hall in Iqaliut. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Geðbrigði, a punk band from Iceland, performs Satruday at the Pan-Arctic Vision contest in Iqaluit before going on to be earn Most Revolutionary Song award at the music contest. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
From left: Jaqqa Petersen, Kimmernaq Kjeldsen and Hans-Henrik Suersaq Poulsen perform Saturday at Pan-Arctic Vision in Iqaluit. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Sweden’s NTÏV performs Saturday at Pan-Arctic Vision in Iqaluit. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)

Located in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, Nunatsiaq News is dedicated to covering affairs in Nunavut and the Nunavik territory of Quebec since 1973. It has been a partner to ArcticToday and its predecessors since 2016.