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Earlier this year, Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson and her husband, John Ralston Saul, spent about a week in Arctic Canada with Aglukark helping lead the way.
"We flew over Hudson Bay, which was very exciting because it was polar bear season. Of course, we didn't see any polar bears," Aglukark laughs. "The rest of the trip was just an amazing little tour. All of it was (due to) her presence."
Clarkson is an Aglukark fan. "(Aglukark) is a wonderful artist and a wonderful role model for young people across our country and, in particular, Inuit children," Clarkson says.
Aglukark performs in London tomorrow night with proceeds helping aboriginal and First Nations agencies. Like her music, which uses social issues for its themes, Aglukark and company's trip to the Arctic had a serious purpose. The Clarkson delegation met local leaders to discuss "the socio-economic challenges" of the impoverished Inuit. It was the first time a Governor General had visited some of the areas in many years.
"No one previous to her had made any visits to the Arctic in something like 40 years and she just wanted to go up there and spend some time with those Canadians," Aglukark says of Clarkson's history-making visit. "The people themselves were very honoured and very flattered."
The trip back to her roots in the Governor General's company brought the singer's life full circle. Aglukark grew up in a northern community in what is now Nunavut. After leaving the North, she worked as a linguist for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in Ottawa. Her first full album was 1992's independently released Arctic Rose. EMI delivered a worldwide deal in 1993.
Arctic Rose was re-released in 1994 and spawned two hit singles, Song of the Land and Still Running. It earned her two Junos. She was also awarded the first-ever Aboriginal Achievement Award in the arts field in 1994. The next year, This Child's first single, O Siem, reached No. 1 on the adult contemporary charts and the Top 10 on contemporary hits radio and country radio.
Early in her career, Aglukark says she was nervous on stage. It may have even helped attract fans to her shows, she jokes.
Now, they'll see a more confident singer. "I have become very comfortable as an artist, as a human being. I think people will sense that on stage."
Still, Aglukark's act hasn't changed all that much.
"It's not slick. It's not choreographed. It's not like that.
"It is a lot of comfort, it is still a lot of story-telling because that is what my songs are."