Born in 1948 in an outpost camp near Apex (Niaqunngut), Iqaluit, on Baffin Island in Nunavut, Mosha Michael is considered to be the first Inuit documentarian. His credits include the roles of researcher/scriptwriter, director, cinematographer, editor, narrator, composer, performer and singer on three NFB-produced films.

A residential school Survivor, Michael made his directorial debut at the age of 27 with the seven-minute short Natsik Hunting (1975), a narration-free depiction of an Inuit seal hunt in which Michael’s voice, accompanied by Inuk musician Etulu Etidloie, can be heard on the guitar-based soundtrack Michael composed for the film. His debut was followed by The Hunters (Asivaqtiin,1977), a first-hand account of a three-week Arctic hunting excursion, a rehabilitative trip undertaken by young offenders and their families. This film also includes an original score and performances by Kowmageak Arngnakolak and Michael himself. Recently discovered, restored and digitized, Michael’s third and final NFB production, Whale Hunting (Qilaluganiatut,1977), depicts the journey of six Inuit hunting for beluga whale near Iqaluit, with an original score that again features music and songs by Arngnakolak and the director. All three of Michael’s NFB projects were shot on a Super 8 camera and offer the rare perspectives of a local filmmaker on the landscapes and practices of Baffin Island in the 1970s.

Michael went on to work for the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation and, in 1985, relocated to Toronto to further pursue his directing career, registering for photography courses at Ryerson (now Toronto Metropolitan) University. Unable to continue filmmaking, he made a living as a soapstone carver until he died in 2009, and his remains were scattered across the Apex River. [i]