Woman sharing Inuit stories through grassroots musical
An adopted woman reconnecting with her Inuit heritage is setting traditional stories told to her by her grandmother to music.
Julia Davis, who also goes by her traditional name Ulayok, quickly gained attention on TikTok after posting the first song she wrote for a musical. The musical, which is in the beginning stages, sets music to the stories Davis was told by her biological grandmother about Inuit culture.
“I’m adopted. And so I’ve always been lucky enough to know where I come from,” David said. "The story that my grandma told me was that if you whistle at the northern lights they'll come down and take you up with them."
Wanting to see more representation of Inuit people, Davis began writing the musical from those stories, not realizing others would be interested.
"A lot of people have you know been rediscovering themselves and wanting to share and that's something I got from TikTok.”
Thousands of people have been watching her journey. Now, Davis wants others to be encouraged to share their own cultures.
“There were many years where I didn’t really feel comfortable with that,” she said. “I think it is important that you stay true to yourself. I guess that’s the most important thing – to tell truthful stories.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.