The poster for the documentary “A Century After Nanook,” which depicts Inukjuak 100 years after the filming “Nanook of the North.” (Photo courtesy of Facebook/Kirk French)

Documentary returns to Inukjuak 100 years after ‘Nanook of the North’

Hamlet gets 1st glimpse of film during community celebration, invited to offer feedback

By Cedric Gallant - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Inuit have come from the Ice Age to the Space Age in one lifetime.

That’s one observation included in documentary A Century After Nanook, which premièred in front of nearly 200 viewers Oct. 19 at Inukjuak’s Pinguavik Recreation Centre.

The film takes viewers to the community 100 years after Nanook of the North, a 1922 American silent film that follows a man named Allakariallak (in the film dubbed Nanook) as he hunts, traps and trades.

Kirk French, a Pennsylvania State University anthropologist and documentary filmmaker, said the inspiration for A Century After Nanook came from the realization that the historic film was about to hit the 100-year mark.  

“We had never worked in the North before, so we’re joking around about Nanook of the North because it is such an influential film,” he said in an interview by video call.

Production started in 2019, but with the COVID-19 pandemic and other logistical complications, the process was long and difficult. 

French said he got in touch with the Avataq Cultural Institute, Nunavik’s organization for the preservation of Inuit culture, and reached out to people in Inukjuak. He eventually contacted Sarah Samisack, who quickly became the co-producer of the film. 

“[French] could not stay the whole year to film” Samisack said in an interview. “I told him I could do shots, interviews and gather videos from the community members.” 

The documentary uses cellphone video shared by people in the community, which depict intimate moments on the land. 

Dozens of elders and community members were also interviewed to share their thoughts and experiences over their lifetime, and how much Inukjuak has changed in 100 years. 

French said there was more trust when community members were given the opportunity to interview each other.

The documentary goes in detail about three traumatic events that happened to the community: the 1960s dog slaughter by governments trying to kill an Inuit tradition, the forced relocation of families to northern Nunavut, and residential schools.

The rapid impacts of climate change are at the forefront of the minds of people in the movie. Despite these challenges, French noted that the general attitude shared in the film was positive, which as an assessment Samisack agreed with.

“We wanted to show what has happened and also be proud of how we are surviving,” said Samisack. “Our culture is still here, we are still here.” 

French noted the film shows the pace of change in Inukjuak over approximately two generations.

While Samisack’s grandmother was born in an igloo, he said, “Sarah is living now in a nice house with heat and electricity.”

People in Inukjuak were the first to see the film, in a celebration with mattaq and caribou. But the première also served as a final round of editing for the production team. Viewers were asked to make suggestions on the movie, and point out their concerns about the movie. 

A screening ofA Century After Nanook in front of a wider audience at Pennsylvania State University is scheduled for March 1.

Share This Story

(2) Comments:

  1. Posted by Joe in Resolute on

    That would be us in northern Nunavut. Tamaaniippugu.
    We hunt polar bears like our great grandpappy, although in a more modern style.

    1
    1
  2. Posted by Tulugaq on

    I remember an evening show of Nanook of the North when I was working in Puvirnituq in the late 1980’s and Taamusie Qumaq was there watching the movie and started to cheer when a 5 year old kid appears in the movie on a qamutik drawn by dogs. That’s when I learned he was that young boy in the movie!

    Later, a friend of mine did the Inuktitut – French translation for the film Kabloonak (by Claude Massot) that told the story of the making of Nanook of the North. Unfortunately this beautiful movie didn’t have much success and Massot committed suicide shortly after. This movie was filmed partly in Siberia shortly after the fall of the USSR and the female star palying Nyla’s role, Seporah Ungalaq, taught me Inutktitut shortly after the release of the movie and the stories she told about the movie were quite funny and interesting.

Join the Conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*