Inuit (21)

Arctic Saga
Douglas Wilkinson 1952 11 min

This film presents highlights in the life of Idlouk, Inuk hunter, and his family during the long day of the midnight sun on Baffin Island. Depicted are: a seal hunt, a narwhale chase, and scenes of busy camp life. Surrounding all is the Arctic scenery--strange ice formations, the eerie blue whiteness of Arctic winter and, during the time of continuous daylight, the green and brown of Arctic tundra.
At the Autumn River Camp: Part 1
Quentin Brown 1967 26 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series was an attempt to recreate the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kugaaruk.

In this episode, it is now late autumn and the family moves to the river valley.
At the Spring Sea Ice Camp: Part 3
Quentin Brown 1967 26 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series aimed to recreate the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kugaaruk.

In this episode, a hunter, travelling alone by dogsled snares a squirrel. At the camp, a qamutiq is made from a polar bear skin. The family breaks camp, and moves ashore for the summer.
At the Caribou Crossing Place: Part 2
Quentin Brown 1967 29 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kuugaruk.

In this episode, two men join the camp. The men build a row of inuksuit to deflect the oncoming caribou into the water, where they are harvested and floated ashore. A great feast follows.
At the Caribou Crossing Place: Part 1
Quentin Brown 1967 30 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kuugaruk.

In this episode, it is now early autumn. A woman works on caribou skins; men return from their hunt with another caribou; and a boy picks berries and then plays at being a hunter.
At the Spring Sea Ice Camp: Part 2
Quentin Brown 1967 26 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kugaaruk.

In this episode, the men hunt for seal, while back at the camp a polar bear skin is pegged out to dry, and people nibble on fish from the cache.
June in Povungnituk - Quebec Arctic
Alanis Obomsawin 1980 1 min
On a beautiful summer’s day in Nunavik, a family enjoys the pleasures of berry picking and fishing as the sound of two Elders throat-singing fills the environment. Directed by Alanis Obomsawin as part of the Canada Vignettes series.
Fishing at the Stone Weir: Part 2
Quentin Brown 1967 26 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kugaaruk.

In this episode, the fishing continues. The plentiful catch is stored in stone caches after the women have cleaned it. Some of the fish is cooked in a stone pot.
Fishing at the Stone Weir: Part 1
Quentin Brown 1967 30 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kugaaruk.

In this episode, it is full summer. The skin tents are up, and it is time to fish.
Group Hunting on the Spring Ice: Part 3
Quentin Brown 1967 33 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kugaaruk.

In this episode, the men return from hunting and families eat seal from the catch.
Group Hunting on the Spring Ice: Part 1
Quentin Brown 1967 34 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kugaaruk.

In this episode, the men are out hunting on the sea ice.
Group Hunting on the Spring Ice: Part 2
Quentin Brown 1967 27 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kugaaruk.

In this episode, the men are out hunting on the sea ice while the women work at drying sealskins, cooking and gathering moss.
The Hunters (Asivaqtiin)
Mosha Michael 1977 13 min
Released in 1977, this beautifully paced short was photographed, directed, edited and narrated by Mosha Michael — one of Canada’s first Inuk filmmakers. Michael offers a first-hand account of a three-week Arctic hunting excursion, a rehabilitative trip undertaken by young offenders and their families. Dropping anchor at various points throughout Frobisher Bay, they fish for cod, hunt for seal and caribou, and renew family and community ties. Shooting on a Super 8 camera and providing his own narration, Michael crafts an engaging document of Inuk life in the 1970s. An original score features performances by Kowmageak Arngnakolak and Michael himself.

Viewer Advisory: This film contains scenes of animal slaughter.
Jigging for Lake Trout
Quentin Brown 1967 31 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series was an attempt to recreate the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kugaaruk.

In this episode, the man and woman are ice fishing.

Please note that this is an archival film that makes use of the word “Eskimo,” an outdated and offensive term. While the origin of the word is a matter of some contention, it is no longer used in Canada. The term was formally rejected by the Inuit Circumpolar Council in 1980 and has subsequently not been in use at the NFB for decades. This film is therefore a time-capsule of a bygone era, presented in its original version. The NFB apologizes for the offence caused.
Land of the Long Day
Douglas Wilkinson 1952 37 min
During the short Arctic summer on Baffin Island, the native Inuit enjoys four months of continuous daylight. But it is no time for relaxation, for provision must be made for the long, cold winter night ahead. In this film Idlouk, an Inuit hunter, tells of his life in this northern land. We watch as he stalks the seal so vital to his existence, and as he and other hunters set out in kayaks to harpoon the white whale and the narwhal. At camp we meet his wife, children and aged parents, each of whom has work to do in the unceasing struggle for survival in this harsh land.

Please note that this is an archival film that makes use of the word “Eskimo,” an outdated and offensive term. While the origin of the word is a matter of some contention, it is no longer used in Canada. The term was formally rejected by the Inuit Circumpolar Council in 1980 and has subsequently not been in use at the NFB for decades. This film is therefore a time-capsule of a bygone era, presented in its original version. The NFB apologizes for the offence caused.
Natsik Hunting
Mosha Michael 1975 7 min
25-year-old Mosha Michael made an assured directorial debut with this seven-minute short, a relaxed narration-free depiction of an Inuk seal hunt. Having participated in a 1974 Super 8 workshop in Frobisher Bay, Michael shot and edited the film himself. His voice can be heard on the appealing guitar-based soundtrack. Released in 1975, Natsik Hunting is believed to be Canada’s first Inuk-directed film.

Viewer Advisory: This film contains scenes of animal slaughter.
People of the Ice

Carlos Ferrand & Jean Lemire 2003 52 min
This feature documentary explores the threats of global warming to the Arctic environment that has nurtured the Inuit for 4,000 years. The Inuit have lived in harmony on this frozen landscape for generations. Today, global warming threatens their habitat. As the ice disappears, so does the Inuit culture it is intimately connected to. Ever-changing temperatures have even made predicting the Arctic climate difficult. Will this extraordinarily resilient people be able to adjust to such dramatic change?
Stalking Seal on the Spring Ice: Part 1
Quentin Brown 1967 24 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kuugaruk.

In this episode, it is spring and a seal is caught and brought back to camp.
Stalking Seal on the Spring Ice: Part 2
Quentin Brown 1967 33 min
Filmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kuugaruk.

In this episode, it is spring and the man is hunting seal.
Tuktu and the Ten Thousand Fishes
Laurence Hyde 1967 14 min
This short docu-fiction film tells the story of Tuktu, who is taken on a fishing trip to the ancient stone weir. There, he sees his father and other hunters spear fish in great numbers, and watches his father and his uncle make fire with an Inuit fire drill.
Whale Hunting (Qilaluganiatut)
Mosha Michael 1977 9 min
An interesting and informative journey with six Inuit hunting for beluga whale near Iqaluit (formerly known as Frobisher / Frobisher Bay). We learn about the methods used in pursuing the whale and dividing the carcass. An original score features music and songs in Inuktitut by the filmmaker Mosha Michaell himself.

Viewer Advisory: This film contains scenes of animal slaughter.

Inuit (21)

Explore