Born in Igloolik, Annabella Piugattuk lived her first 19 years with her parents, four brothers and younger sister the traditional Inuit way. Isolated from the rest of the world, they spent many months each year in darkness, patiently hunting for seals and waiting for Qaggiq, the festival marking the return of the sun. When the sun’s rays finally appeared they joined their community in drumming, feasting and celebrating the return of the light. Annabella shone a bright light of her own when she starred as Kanaalaq, in the feature film “The Snow Walker.” Discovered in her home town just a few hundred kilometers south of the North Pole, Annabella captured the imagination of Oscar-winning producer Bill Vance. Today, she is an accomplished performer, known across North America, but Annabella’s heart remains firmly rooted in the north and the proud traditions of her ancestors.