Becky Han is an Inuk Canadian singer and songwriter, noted for composing original acoustic music in Inuktitut.
Becky Han | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Arctic Bay, Nunavut |
| Genres | Acoustic Inuktitut music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 2006-present[1] |
Life and career
editHan is originally from Arctic Bay, Nunavut.[1] She first posted videos online as a way to continue sharing her music with her parents after she moved from Nunavut to Brandon, Manitoba, which led to a substantial online following.[1] Han has discussed two motivations for writing and sharing original music in her native language of Inuktitut: to help keep the language alive, and to feel closer to the community she grew up in.[1] Han has built her music career while also working as a stay-at-home mother.[2]
Han won both first and second place in the Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage's 2016 Qilaut Inuktut children's songwriting contest.[1] One of her songs, "786", won first place, and another of her songs, "Qaariaq", won second place; both songs were co-written with her sister, Tracy May.[3] Han and May's song "6-muaqpat" won second place in the 2019 Qilaut contest, and their song "Piqannarijaq" won fifth place that year.[4] Han had previously placed eighth in the 2015 contest with a song that she co-wrote with Melissa Reid.[5]
In March 2017, Han opened for Tanya Tagaq in Winnipeg during Tagaq's tour.[1][6][7][8] In a 2017 BBC broadcast in which Tagaq played an hour of her favourite music, she included Han's single "Guutiga" among the 15 tracks she selected.[9]
Also in 2017, Han's single "786" was featured by Up Here Magazine in a Nunavut Music Week list of Inuktitut music.[10]
In 2018, Han won first place in the Qikiqtani Inuit Association's contest for the best original song or poem in Inuktitut.[8] The title of Han's winning entry was "Nagligigakkit" (which translates to "because I love you").[7] She placed third in the 2019 QIA contest.[11]
In 2021, Han published The Bee, a picture book based on her award-winning song "Qaariaq".[12]
Selected awards
edit- 2nd place, Qilaut Inuktut songwriting contest, Government of Nunavut (2019)
- 3rd place, Inuktitut song/poem contest, Qikiqtani Inuit Association (2019)
- 1st place, Inuktitut song/poem contest, Qikiqtani Inuit Association (2018)
- 1st and 2nd place, Qilaut Inuktut songwriting contest, Government of Nunavut (2016)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Hill, Angela (December 1, 2016). "Becky Han wins Qilaut songwriting contest". CBC.
- ^ Rohner, Thomas (December 6, 2016). "For Becky Han, children's songs just have to be funny". Nunatsiaq News.
- ^ Government of Nunavut (December 5, 2016). "2016 Qilaut Inuktut children's songwriting winners" (PDF).
- ^ Government of Nunavut (2019). "2019 Qilaut winning songs".
- ^ Government of Nunavut (2015). "2015 Qilaut winning songs".
- ^ Kostesky, Jenn (March 24, 2017). "Live Music: Tanya Tagaq and Becky Han in Winnipeg". FEISTY Magazine.
- ^ a b "QIA recognizes young Inuit singers and poets: Becky Han's "Nagligigakkit" wins first honours". Nunatsiaq News. March 8, 2018.
- ^ a b Zerehi, Sima Sahar (March 1, 2018). "QIA announces winners of song/poem contest". Qikiqtani Inuit Association.
- ^ "Tanya Tagaq's Playlist". February 5, 2017.
- ^ Mathisen, Herb (December 1, 2017). "Iqaluit Rock City: A soundtrack to Nunavut Music Week". Up Here Magazine.
- ^ Zerehi, Sima Sahar (February 28, 2019). "QIA announces winners of song/poem contest". Nation Talk.
- ^ "The Bee". Inhabit Media. Retrieved June 3, 2022.