Iva and Angu

Iva and Angu are a Canadian musical duo from Nunavut who perform Inuit throat singing. The duo, consisting of Kathleen Ivaluarjuk Merritt and Charlotte Angugaattiaq Qamaniq, released the album Katajjausiit in 2022, and received a JUNO Award nomination for Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2023.

Albums

Album cover for Inuit throat singing duo Iva and Angu's debut Katajjausiit

Album

Katajjausiit

Biography

Ivaluarjuk and Angugaattiaq are Inuit throat singers who share the beauty of katajjausiit, the traditional songs of Inuit women. Their names, passed down through ancient Inuit naming traditions, connect them to generations of ancestors. Each performance honours songs that survived the cultural suppression of colonization, carrying forward a sound that has echoed across the Arctic for millennia.

Katajjausiit are traditional songs unique to Inuit women of the Canadian Arctic—timeless melodies that have echoed across millennia. More than music, these songs have the power to influence spirits and weather, soothe children to sleep, entertain communities, and bring warmth during the long, unforgiving Arctic winters.

Photos

  • Iva and Angu demonstrating katajjaq at the Elders Qammaq in Iqaluit [credit: Jeff Pelletier]

    Jeff Pelletier

  • Iva and Angu hug during a performance Alianait big top tent stage 2024 [credit: Vincent Desrosiers]

    Vincent Desrosiers

  • Iva and Angu walk the Juno Awards red carpet

Awards and Recognition

  • Winner Most Arctic Song, PanArcticVision Song Contest, Nuuk (2024)
  • Nominated Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year, Juno Awards (2023)

Downloads

  • tech_rider_iva_and_angu.pdf89 KB