‘I’m just very proud of him’: Edmonton Inuit come out for Jordin Tootoo film

Edmonton Inuit are showing support former NHL star Jordin Tootoo ahead of the world premiere of Tootoo: The Jordin Tootoo Story, a documentary based on his life.

“We are excited,” said Kimberly Tologanak, who is originally from Cambridge Bay but has lived in Alberta’s capital for 25 years.

The film premieres in Edmonton Friday at 7 p.m. at Rogers Place and Tootoo himself is scheduled to be there.

Almost two years in the making, the documentary is based of his autobiography All The Way: My Life on Ice, one of two books he’s written about his life and career.

The movie follows Tootoo’s career in hockey as the first Inuk player in the NHL. He was first signed by the Nashville Predators in 2003 and played with three other teams before retiring in 2018.

The film also dives into his personal life, including his struggles with alcohol addiction and the suicide of his brother, Terence, in 2002, and how these challenges have led to a path of mental health and Indigenous youth advocacy.

Tologanak said she has heard Tootoo speak about these issues before.

“I was very happy to hear his story,” she said.

“Hearing how he grew up and what he’s done, what he’s accomplished, I’m just very proud of him, because we don’t have many Inuit role models that really speak out.”

Tologanak said her brother also died by suicide. Suicide, she said, is a serious problem among Inuit men, which is why she feels Tootoo’s message is so important.

Tologanak said she’s planning to attend the event with her daughter and some other Inuit mothers and their children.

Nunatsiaq News asked Tologanak if she thought a lot of Inuit would be at the premiere.

“I hope so!” she said.

Tupaarnaq Kopeck said she is also planning to attend the event. Originally from Greenland, Kopeck moved to Canada three years ago and Edmonton three months ago.

“We’re gonna come to support [him] and and we’re proud to because it’s not that often you see one of our fellow Inuit on a big stage,” she said.

“It’s really inspiring to see him on a stage like that because it gives the rest of us hope.”

She said events like this one are a great way to bring the small Inuit community in Edmonton together.

Adam Scorgie, the film’s producer, said he is incredibly proud of what he and his team have accomplished.

“It’s arguably the most emotional film we’ve ever made,” he said.

In producing the film, “nothing was off the table for Jordin,” Scorgie said.

Tootoo did have one requirement, however, Scorgie said, which was a deal breaker if not fulfilled: the crew had to come north to Rankin Inlet where Tootoo grew up, to understand where he came from.

“It was a such a life-changing experience for my team and, I’m not going to lie, we were terrified the first time we had to go out on the land,” Scorgie said.

On one visit, the crew were on the land for three days. Scorgie joked they thought they were going to freeze to death on that excursion.

It was worth it though, he said, adding the trips north really helped the documentarians really understand how “amazing his journey” has been.

“Jordin is just an incredible human being. Canada and the North are lucky to have him,” Scorgie said.