Charlotte Qamaniq is a North Baffin Inuk performance artist, actor, throat singer, and public speaker. Originally from Iglulik, Nunavut, she has worked with First Peoples Group since 2015 to deliver cultural competency workshops that draw from her experience as a bilingual (English and Inuktitut) Inuk woman having lived in both small and urban communities. Her work focuses on the relationship between Inuit, the Canadian government and general populace, and their loss and subsequent struggle to regain independence in colonial institutions.
In addition to her work with First Peoples Group, Charlotte has taught K-12 students Inuit culture and history through Inuuqatigiit’s (formerly Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre) Bridging the Gap program. From 2009-2015 she worked as a cultural programmer, events coordinator, and support worker for Tungasuvvingat Inuit. In 2014 Charlotte was named a National Aboriginal Role Model by the National Aboriginal Health Organization and in the subsequent year she sat on the National Indigenous Young Women’s Council, dedicated to building solidarity and ending violence in Indigenous communities.
In 2005 Charlotte participated in the Youth Suicide Prevention Walk from Duncan BC to Ottawa ON, raising awareness on youth suicide in Indigenous communities across Canada. In the same year Charlotte co-created the throat singing duo Silla with Cynthia Pitsiulak, a singing group blending traditional and contemporary katajjaq (Inuit throat singing) across a wide range of genres. They have performed globally as a duo and are twice Juno nominated under the moniker Silla and Rise, once in 2017 for Best Indigenous Album of the Year, and again in 2019 for World Music Album of the Year. She was again Juno nominated in 2023 alongside throat singing partner Ivaluarjuk Kathleen Merritt for Traditional Indigenous Album of the Year.
Outside of work Charlotte maintains her cultural identity by learning traditional songs and drum dance, sewing traditional clothing, and beading.