Inuit throat singing (also known as katajjaq) developed as a form of musical entertainment among Inuit women while men were away hunting. It’s regarded as more of an endurance contest than a ‘performance’. Two women face each other and hold each other’s arms, producing a mixture of sounds ranging from chanting, to growling, to singing (often trying to imitate animals or their surroundings). The first one to run out of breath, laugh, or stop for any reason is the loser.
During Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony for Canada’s new prime minister, Justin Trudeau, two young Inuit throat singers from Ottawa —Samantha Metcalfe and Cailyn Degrandpre — broke into adorable giggles after two rounds of katajjaq in front of Trudeau and Canada’s Governor General.
