A conference on northern languages in Iqaluit has ended with some participants urging territorial governments to use popular music as a way of promoting and preserving Inuktitut.

The Nunavut Language Summit examined ways in which music — and not the traditional throat singing or other ancient forms of entertainment — can help younger Inuit connect with their culture.

"Definitely, I think Inuktitut can be preserved through poetry, through songwriting, through every kind of writing there is," Juno award-winning performer Susan Aglukark, who sings in both English and Inuktitut, told CBC News.

Canadian delegates have cast an eye towards their neighbours in Greenland where young Inuk dance in clubs to lyrics in Kalaallisut, the Greenlandic language.

There are two major music labels on the island which boast music in the Greenlandic language from many genres: rock, hip hop and soul.

Local performers such as Chilly Friday and Nanook are treated like celebrities.

Popular Greenlandic artists sell well

Greenlandic rapper Peand-eL, who attended the summit, says music doesn't sell in his region if it isn't in the local language. And if the music is good, the young people will be drawn to it in a natural, not forced, way.

His music recounts the social problems he sees.

"I talk about the taboo stuff … like suicide, neglected children and dreams of being independent from everything," says the rapper, 27, whose real name is Peter Lyberth and whose day job is in daycare.

According to Lyberth, a popular artist can sell as many as 3,000 CDs — that's pretty good considering the island has a population of about 55,000.

The example from Greenland is now inspiring locals.

Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory, who is a Greenlandic-Canadian Inuk living in Iqaluit, says she'd love to have the same kind of music scene.

Barthory is part of a group trying to create a performing arts centre in Iqaluit.

"If a kid has some way of expressing herself or himself on a stage, or really truly expressing what's inside their hearts in a creative and positive way, then they don't feel the need to go out into the community and vandalize."

With files from Patricia Bell