Taxes, children and ‘layers of grief’: Beatrice Deer takes Proust Questionnaire

Beatrice Deer is many things at once.

She is a singer, author, seamstress and a recipient of a long list of honours, from the Canadian Indigenous Music Awards to the King Charles III Coronation Medal.

And she is an advocate for taking care of your life. Even if life makes it as difficult as possible.

As a kid in Nunavik, she lived through losses: she lost three of her siblings to suicide and tragedies. As a teenager, she was a victim of several sexual assaults.

“Many of us Inuit have layers upon layers of grief,” she said.

But after years of battling alcoholism, then undergoing counselling and overcoming unhappiness, she can say, “I’m a healthy person.”

Deer took some time recently after her morning workout to answer the Proust Questionnaire.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Perfect happiness doesn’t exist.

It’s peace that I strive for. That’s what I discovered, because when I got sober I thought I was looking for happiness, but I was actually looking for peace.

There are always going to be losses, whether through death or relationships.

And you’re going to be very sad. But even through sadness, you can still be at peace.

What is your greatest fear?

To lose any of my children.

Which living person do you most admire?

Right now, I admire my three-and-a-half-year-old. I admire her innocence, her purity, her curiosity, and that she’s growing up in a nurturing, safe home.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Singing. Nothing brings me to a place of happiness like singing.

What is your greatest regret?

Putting my kids through hell through my alcoholism.

What is your current state of mind?

I need more of me to finish all my projects. [Deer is working on her eighth album, which will be released in September.]

Which living person do you most despise?

Putin and Trump.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

With my daughter, I say, ‘Auka!’ Like, ‘No, no’ or ‘Stop’ to my three-and-a-half-year-old.

Or I say, ‘We’ll do that later.’

What is your greatest achievement?

Rebuilding my relationship with my kids.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Knitting.

Where would you like to live?

I’m fine where I am. In the present moment.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

To know more about taxes.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

This one [Deer pointed at a wrinkle on her forehead and laughed].

Now, everyone’s gonna, like, look at it.

But I’m OK with myself.

Once in front of God, what would you tell him?

Thank you for the life you’ve given me.

Nunatsiaq News is borrowing the old Proust Questionnaire parlour game to get to know people who are in the news. If you know someone in your community who our readers should get to know by taking this questionnaire, let us know by email: editors@nunatsiaq.com.