Your Top Photos from Alianait 2015 PLUS Contest Winners!

After six full days of music, dance, and workshops, the Alianait Arts Festival is over. This year, we have been really lucky to partner with the festival team to run Alianait 2015’s Instagram contest. With hundreds of photos tagged to #alianait2015 and thousands of “likes” on the selected entries, we finally have our winners – plus a bunch of other great shots. Here are your top Instagram photos from Alianait 2015, as decided by your votes.* If you’re looking for new people to follow on Instagram, may we suggest this crop of favourites?

*Based on number of likes at time of posting!

10. Music and movement by @iamnatashia

Perfect framing in this photo by @iamnatashia. On stage is Nanook from Greenland, @celinakalluk from Nunavut, and a performer from ARTCIRQ. Keep tagging your photos to #alianait2015 for your chance to be an #alianait2015finalist! The two photos with the most likes will win an awesome Alianait prize pack!

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jul 1, 2015 at 1:09pm PDT

9. Pita and Piu with Nanook by @kaibabe9

Pita and Piu on stage with Nanook – art on art! Great capture by @kaibabe9, and another #Alianait2015Finalist! Tag your Alianait Arts Festival photos with #alianait2015 for your chance to win one of two prize packs!

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jun 28, 2015 at 3:46pm PDT

8. Alianait 2015 stage by @frinuk

And a final photo from last night's show, this one by @frinuk. Doesn't that stage look awesome?! . Looking forward to seeing more of your #alianait2015 photos; keep tagging for your chance to win one of two great prize packs. And vote for your favourite photos by clicking #Alianait2015Finalist. Contest closes July 2, so keep liking!

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jun 28, 2015 at 3:51pm PDT

7. Young Circumpolar Artists Collaborative by @qulaut

A few more #alianait2015 picks before tonight's finale performance. This photo by @qulaut perfectly captures @suersaq_ doing what he does best, on stage with the Young Circumpolar Artists Collaborative. Incredible performance from these Greenlandic, Nunavummiut, and Nunavimmiut youth. Don't forget to vote for your favourite #alianait2015finalist before midnight on July 2. Just check the #alianait2015finalist hashtag to see all the selected entries. And don't forget to follow us for your chance to be chosen!

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jul 1, 2015 at 1:07pm PDT

6. Tuktu stew by @iamsaali_

Next up, a photo by @iamsaali_ that shows that #alianait2015 isn't only about music – it's also about food! This tuktu (caribou) stew was made by Iqaluit's Inclusion Cafe. You have until July 2 at midnight to vote for your favourite #Alianait2015Finalist! Just click #Alianait2015Finalist to see all the selected entries.

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jun 30, 2015 at 7:37pm PDT

5. The softer side of the circus by @redwebbedfeet

The softer side of the circus, captured perfectly by @redwebbedfeet. This silent act had the audience reaching for their loved ones at #alianait2015. Alright folks, you have until midnight tonight to choose your favourite #Alianait2015Finalist! Click the hashtag to see all the entries, and like your top photos. We will announce the winners, and the top photos, on the blog tomorrow (link in bio).

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jul 2, 2015 at 12:54pm PDT

4. Young lovers of music by @nadiamiked

Love seeing young lovers of music, this time enjoying a performance by the @slocanramblers. Sweet capture by @nadiamiked – and another #Alianait2015Finalist. We're selecting our favourite shots tagged to #alianait2015 from everyday until July 2! Tag your photos for your chance to win one of two awesome prize packs. And don't forget to click #Alianait2015Finalist to see all the selected entries and VOTE for your favourites.

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jun 27, 2015 at 6:20pm PDT

3. Elijah in front of the big top by @akia_inuksuk

Another young music fan! Elijah gives #alianait2015 two thumbs up! We love this shot by @akia_inuksuk! 👍🏽👍🏽 . Vote for your favourite #Alianait2015Finalist by clicking the hashtag and liking the photos. And keep on tagging your festival photos with #alianait2015 for your chance to be selected.

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jun 28, 2015 at 3:49pm PDT

And in second place we have…a tie!

We have two winners for the second place prize of:

TWO tickets to an Alianait concert of their choice from the 2015 Concert Series (Choices: Amelia Curran in September, Joel Plaskett in October, and Diyet in November)
Alianait swag bag

And the runner up winners are Jordan (@jordankonek) and Barbara (@inuk.barbie)!

It's time for tonight's #alianait2015 regrams! Click #Alianait2015Finalist to see all of the selected entries, and like your favourite shots before July 3. This photo of the Big Top Tent was taken by @jordankonek. Great capture!

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jun 28, 2015 at 3:34pm PDT

And the final #Alianait2015Finalist photo from #alianait2015 for tonight is from @inuk.barbie, who took a photo of Nunavut's strongest woman carrying three people and a polar bear! Keep tagging your photos to #alianait2015. If your shots are selected, you could win one of two awesome Alianait prize packs, which include swag, concert tickets, and the chance to meet Joel Plaskett! Contest ends July 2 – so keep snapping and tagging! Check #Alianait2015Finalist for all the finalists and vote for your favourites. The two photos with the most votes will WIN!

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jun 30, 2015 at 7:41pm PDT

And our Grand Prize winner?

With an overwhelming lead, our Grand Prize winner of TWO tickets to see Joel Plaskett live in Iqaluit, a meet and greet with Joel and CD giveaway, and an Alianait swag bag is…

When you see the circus for the first time. Adorable capture by @qulaut. Thanks for tagging your photos with #alianait2015! Looking forward to seeing more photos. Don't forget to like your favourite #alianait2015finalist! Click the hashtag and LIKE away! The top two most-liked photos by midnight tomorrow will win one of two amazing prize packs.

A photo posted by Finding True North (@findtruen) on Jul 1, 2015 at 1:12pm PDT

Virginia with this adorable photo of little Sophia absolutely captivated during Artcirq’s performance.

Congratulations Virginia, Jordan, and Barbara! Please get in touch with us to claim your prizes. You can email us at [email protected], or send us a Facebook/Instagram message, or like, come up to us at the Legion. Whatever works.

Also, much love to Alianait’s Heather and Kathleen for coming up with these amazing prizes, promoting the contest, and just letting us be part of the fun! Special shout out to Travis of Asukuluk, too, for being our #1 friend in tech (he made the awesome #Alianait2015 projections that were displayed above the performers).

Thanks to everyone for participating and tagging #Alianait2015. Don’t forget – we’re still running our weekly Nunavut Instagram contest, so follow us on Instagram and tag your Nunavut photos with #nunagram for a chance to be featured on our page.