Nunavut, Canada artists to contribute to upcoming, youth-made climate change documentary
The West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative, based in the community of Kinngait in Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, will be partnering with the Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow, the ilinniapaa Skills Development Centre Iqaluit and the University of Minnesota Duluth on a documentary project looking at climate change.
The project, titled Our People, Our Climate, will train youth and young people in documentary filmmaking, with the finished project also commissioning imagery from West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative (WBEC) artists.
“We are very pleased to participate in this dynamic and multifaceted partnership,” WBEC President Pauloosie Kowmageak said in a news release.
“The Inuit artists of Kinngait have a long history of documenting the land around them, and their artwork will provide important insights on climate change for the viewers of this exceptional film production.”
Documenting the changing environment in Nunavut
The youth and young people participating in the project will be from all over Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, and will record audio and visuals on the effects of climate change in their community.
The ilinniapaa Skills Development Centre, a Nunavut-based place that offers preemployment skills and skills development training, will host an online training platform on documentary techniques like photography, videography, drone footage and interviewing techniques.
The University of Minnesota Duluth will also contribute digital photography and video technique curriculum to the project as well as mentorship.
Screening in 2021
The finished film will be screened at the Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow during the annual meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.
“This dynamic partnership is an excellent example of collaboration on many levels while pioneering mentorship,” said David Joanasie, a member of Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly for the South Baffin district.
“I look forward to the results of this training initiative and I am excited that both our youth and Kinngait artists will have the chance to share their perspectives on climate change with an international audience.”
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: New ebook explores life and legacy of Canadian artist Annie Pootoogook, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Sámi-themed Finnish short film makes Sundance lineup, Yle News
Greenland: `Enough of this postcolonial sh#%’ – An interview with Greenlandic author Niviaq Korneliussen, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson lights up London’s Tate Modern, Blog by Mia bennett
Norway: Walt Disney Animation Studios to release Saami-language version of “Frozen 2”, Eye on the Arctic
Russia: Russia’s Arctic culture heritage sites get protection, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Sweden, Norway team up to preserve ancient rock carvings, Radio Sweden
United States: Set of Indigenous Yup’ik masks reunited in Alaska after more than a century, CBC News
