Nunavik land claim negotiators pass the torch to Inuit youth

Alicia Aragutak, president of Nunavik’ youth association, accepts a gavel presented to her Nov. 12 by Senator Charlie Watt, a signatory to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. (PHOTO COURTEST OF A. ARAGUTAK)

When Nunavik elder and land claims signatory Tommy Cain uttered the phrase “napagunnaqullusi,” it went on to define Makivik Corp.’s new documentary on the region’s role in negotiating the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

The film, which adopted Napagunnaqullusi as its title, or So That You Can Stand in English, premiered in Kuujjuaq this past week.

The “you” in that title is a younger generation on Nunavimmiut.

Youth were a major driver for the film’s producers, who wanted to document the historical process to ensure young Inuit understand how modern-day Nunavik came to be.

And on Nov. 12, Makivik held a special event, inviting Nunavimmiut youth to see the film at Kuujjuaq’s Katittavik town hall.

“It really touched a lot of us,” said Alicia Aragutak, president of Nunavik’s youth forum, which represents Nunavimmiut aged 15 to 35.

“I had an epiphany; the signatories, whom I always thought were bold and all mighty and bulletproof, are so much like us, they are humans with feelings, with big visions,” she told Nunatsiaq News.

“They are very human that they fought for their people, their rights as Inuit. I think a lot of the youth would relate to this.”

Arugutak said the film inspired pride in its viewers. She heard a lot of the same comments following the screening: “Isurrilarilirqita atsurunnatukkurutivininginnik” or “We are very comfortable now, because they went through hardships.”

After the film, Senator Charlie Watt, who was founding president of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association and a key land claim negotiator, presented Aragutak with a gavel. as a symbol of leadership, being passed from one generation to the next.

“That we take on and carry forward all that still needs to be done today, and tomorrow,” Aragutak said.

“All the work [they] have accomplished is a solid foundation to what is still to come out way.”

You can read more about the new documentary here.