June 19, 2025

In the Warming Arctic, These Inuit Traditions Refuse to Disappear

28 minutes

When Métis writer Debbie Olsen heard the haunting sounds of Inuit throat singing for the first time, she felt an unexpected connection to her own Indigenous roots. In northern Quebec's remote Inuit region of Nunavik, she discovered how an entire community is fighting to preserve cultural traditions that were once banned—while adapting to a rapidly warming world that threatens their ancient way of life.

In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Debbie takes us inside Kuujjuaq's remarkable cultural revival, from throat-singing performances to traditional sewing centers, where elders pass down survival skills that have sustained Inuit life for generations. Plus, we explore how climate change is forcing this resilient community to adapt while holding fast to their identity.

Ancient Arts in Modern Times

In this episode you'll learn:

How throat singing survived decades of government suppression to become a global art form

Why traditional sewing and qamutiik-making are essential to cultural preservation

What climate change means for Arctic communities living on the front lines

A Culture of Resilience, With A Little Help From Community

[04:30] The "Poor Little Puppy Song" and the stories behind throat singing traditions

[12:15] Inside the sewing center where women reclaim traditional clothing-making skills

[18:20] How eider down harvesting connects ancient practices with modern technology

[22:45] The polar bear in town that signals a changing Arctic

What Cultural Preservation Should Be All About

Award-winning travel writer and Métis journalist Debbie Olsen brings a unique Indigenous perspective to exploring cultural traditions. Based in Canada, her work focuses on connecting with Indigenous communities and understanding how ancestral knowledge survives in the modern world.

In this episode you'll hear how Kuujjuaq's community centers—from throat singing groups to carpentry workshops—represent more than skill-sharing; they're acts of cultural healing that help Inuit people reclaim what colonization tried to erase, all while preparing future generations for an uncertain climate future.

Resources

Read the transcript of this episode.

Learn more about Debbie's work at wonderwoman.ca

Follow Debbie on Instagram @wanderwoman_deb.

Explore Nunavik travel experiences through NunaWild.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, ⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.

Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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