Iqaluit screening of “Tony” guides clean-living talk with high school students

“Tony, Back from the Brink” tells an all-too rare story in Nunavut: an angry, young criminal spends two decades behind bars, but then turns his life around, becoming a mentor and role model within his own community. (PHOTO BY THOMAS ROHNER)

Iqaluit MLA Paul Okalik speaks to students after the screening of “Tony, Back from the Brink.” (PHOTO BY THOMAS ROHNER)

When Nunavut convicts who have committed violent crimes speak from the heart against violence, even high school students sit still and listen.

About 50 Iqaluit high school students filled the Astro Theatre May 12 for a CBC North screening of Tony, From the Brink, which was named “Best Documentary” at the Yellowknife International Film Festival in 2014.

The film, a 45-minute documentary by Clyde River filmmaker Mike Jaypoody, follows local Tony Kalluk who led a crime-filled life for decades before returning to his home community to counsel other troubled men.

“It’s not that I liked hurting people but it was something I thought I had to do,” said Kalluk, who has tattoos of skulls and demons scattered around his torso and climbing up his neck, as can be seen in the film.

“Fighting becomes a part of you.”

It was only after the persistent faith of a Harley Davidson-driving mentor, and having his own children, that Kalluk was finally able to manage his anger and violent outbursts.

“I don’t hurt people anymore. I wish I could sometimes, but I can’t,” Kalluk said.

After a troubled childhood, which included Kalluk being tied up with rope for hours at a time without food or water, Kalluk said in the film that he reached a breaking point when his father was shot and killed.

“I thought, that’s it. I’m going to get you back,” he said.

In the film Kalluk describes how his anger eventually led him to a “suicide mission” — an incident when he chased an RCMP officer with two butcher knives in hopes that the officer would shoot and kill him.

But the officer, now Nunavut RCMP commander Mike Jeffrey, shot Kalluk in the leg instead and Kalluk survived.

That’s something that Kalluk said he’s forever grateful for, because if he had died then, Kalluk wouldn’t have had any kids.

“My kids are teaching me something now I never knew before: how to be a kid,” Kalluk says in the film, sitting on a couch beside his spouse as his son crawls all over him.

In hindsight, Kalluk said his refusal to deal with grief, especially over his father’s death, almost killed him.

“Grieving is a strong thing — it either makes you or destroys you,” Kalluk said.

After the screening, guest speaker, Iqaluit MLA and former Nunavut premier, Paul Okalik told students that anger and grief at his brother’s suicide — which took place when Okalik was 13 years old — led him to a long bout of alcoholism.

It was only with the help and love of his family that he was able to get his life back on track, Okalik said.

“Never carry anger, let it go if you want to move forward,” Okalik said.

Yvonne Niego, assistant deputy justice minister of Nunavut, introduced a short audio message from three inmates at the Baffin Correctional Centre which was recorded for students at the screening.

One inmate told the students that it’s too painful for him to speak to family anymore, and that prison is depressing and hard on his heart and mind.

“You’re a very important person, no one can replace you. Look after yourself,” an inmate told the students.