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ArtsCulturePerformanceArt13TuesdayAugust132013EQUIPMENTRENTALINDUSTRIALSUPPLYATrueNorthernCompany103KamLakeRoadYellowknifeNTPh867766-6025Fax867873-4871BelugahuntinspiresNorthernperformanceartArlukslatestpieceexploresclimatechangeandculturaldualityByMEAGANWOHLBERGArecentwhalehuntofftheArcticcoastwasnotonlylife-changingforNWT-bornwriterandactorRenelttaArlukbutafertileplaygroundofinspirationforherlatestper-formanceartpieceexploringissuesofclimatechangeandthedualityofculture.TheDene-Inuvialuitartistrecentlyventuredtoawhal-ingcamponKendallIslandvehoursnorthofInuvikontheBeaufortSeatopartici-pateinabelugaharvestaspartoftherealitytelevisionshowDeneAJourney.WhatshefoundwasnotonlyanintroductiontopartsofherpreviouslyunknownfamilyandculturebutthebackingforanewtheatricalperformancecalledAnticipationwhichsub-tlyexaminesidentityandtheimpactsofclimatechangeonNorthernpeoples.EveryonehasanopinionaboutclimatechangeandathoughtaboutitandmetooandIlovetheatrebutsome-timeswhenyoudotheatreforsocialchangeitcanbecometoohammerontheheadArluksaid.Performanceartismoreabstractanditsimagebasedanddealswithallyoursenses.SoIjustthoughtitwillbeabstractbutalsoitwillbequitepoignant.WorkshoppedwithCalgary-basedindigenousartistTerranceHoulelastmonthAnticipationisnamedaftertheever-appar-entactofwaitinginvolvedinthewhalehuntArlukobservedwhileonKendallIsland.Itreallyhastodowiththeexperienceofthehuntbecauseitseemsthatthewholeexistenceofthecampistheanticipationofwhale.Thatseverything.Peoplearesmokingtheirciga-rettesanddrinkingtheircoffeeandlisteningtotheradioandlookingatthewaterandtheweather-isthereafogcom-ingin-andthentheyregoingoutforwhale.Itsjustgotthisenergy.Thentheyredoneandallofusarejustwaitingantici-patingthecallofWevegotawhale.Sothenitsmorecig-arettesmorecoffeeandthentheyvegotthewhaleanditstheanticipationofthewhalecomingArluksaid.Youkindofthinkbecauseitsabiganimalthatitwilltakeforevertocarve.No.Itsdonesuperfast.Itprobablytookabout15minutes...Thenyouwaitandwaitagainbecauseyouhavetowaitforthemeatandthemuk-tuktotakeafulldayinthehotsunoradayandahalfinthemildsunandthenyoucutitupagain.Whenyoucutitupagainitsanotherrushrushcutcutsliceslicewashhang-ittakesaboutanhour.Rushrushrushthendone.Anticipating.Inthe30-minuteperfor-manceArlukcutsupwhalemeat-actuallychairfoamsoakedinoil-whilereectingonhowbelugasareaffectedbyclimatechange.Arlukwastoldbyascientistatthewhalecampthatwhiletheanimalsandpopulationareingoodhealththeirblubberisthinningwhichisasuspectedresultofchangingfoodcontent.WhatshesaidisthatthebelugaishuntingshthatareprobablylessfattybecausetheymostlyfeedonshandtheyrenewspeciesofshthatarecomingupfromthewatersopeningupfromthewaterbeingwarmerArluksaid.Climatechangeissopo-liticalandeveryonehassuchatwistonitandIreallywantedtojustseesomethingformy-self.AndIthinkthatconversa-tionisreallysayingitthefoodthatthewhalesareeatingarelessfattythereforetheblub-berthattheyhaveislessfatty.Ithinkthatisanindicationinitselfthatthingsarechanging.ArlukthroughhercompanyAkpikTheatreplanstoper-formtheshowatanupcom-ingfestivalinYellowknifeinSeptemberbeingorganizedbytheNorthernArtsandCulturalCentre.ItwillalsobeperformednextFebruaryattheCarbon14ClimateisCultureexhibi-tioninTorontoacollaborationbetweenscientistsandartistslookingatclimatechange.ApartfromhelpingcreateanewperformancethewhalehuntjourneyalsohelpedArlukconnectwithpartofheridentityandreectonthedu-alityofculture-alsoathemeexploredinAnticipation.BecauseIwasraisedwithmymomsbeliefsandteach-ingswhichistheDenesideofmeIwasneverraisedinmyInuitside...Soyourebasicallyputtingyourselfouttherecom-pletelytobeopentoanexpe-riencewhereyoudontknowwhattoexpect...YoureheadingtocampandyouveneverbeenthereyoudontknowthepeopleItreallyhastodowiththeexperienceofthehuntbecauseitseemsthatthewholeexistenceofthecampistheanticipationofwhale.Thatseverything.RenelttaArlukthereyouknowtheyredistantrelativesbutyouvenevermetthemandtheyvenevermetyoushesaid.IntheendIknowIleftareallystrongimpressionandtheysaidComebacknextyear...Welltakeyouback...Itwasapositiveexperience.IleftchangedandtheywerechangedandIjustfeltapartofmejustgotmorewhole.PhotosAmosScottandAkpikTheatreRenelttaArlukslatestperformanceartpiecereectsarecentbelugawhalehunttheDene-InuvialuitartistparticipatedinofftheArcticcoast.Aclipfromthe30minuteperformancepiecetitledAnticipationshowsArlukcuttingupwhalemeatwhilediscussingissuesofclimatechangeandidentity.