filming for our future
TRANSCRIPT
Filming for Our futureSocio-Historical, Cross-Generational and Multi-media Approaches to Inuit Youth Mental Health and Well-being
School of Social Work, University of British Columbia School (UBC), Vancouver, Canada
Nanisiniq Arviat History Project Research Team: Martha Okotak, Silas Illungiayok, Tamar Mukyunik, Jordan Konek, Curtis Kuunuaq, Amy Owingayak, Dr. Paule McNicoll, Mr. Peter Irniq, Dr. Frank Tester & April Dutheil
Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
Nanisiniq Arviat History Project
• Inuit Elders & youth from Arviat, Nunavut
• Two year multi-media history project
• Participatory action research
• Sivulinuut Elders Society & University of British Columbia School of Social Work
Arviat, Nunavut
• 1,200 kilometers north of Winnipeg
• Third largest town in Nunavut
• Population approx. 3,000
Inuit History
• Most dramatic assimilation period in history
• Relocation• Starvation• Residential school• An attempt to
assimilate Inuit into western culture
Tester & McNicoll (2004)
Mental Health and Well-being• Arviat: 74% of population
under 25 years old compared to 35% for general Canada
• Arviat: Highest national birth rate – 35/1,000
• Nunavut suicide eight times the rate of suicide in southern Canada– 119.7/100,000 vs.
14/100,000• Socio-historical trauma &
fractured identity/belonging
Hicks (2004); Tester & McNicoll (2004); White (2010)
Generational Gap
• Decreased interaction between Elders and youth
• Impacts grasp of culturally, socially and geographically -relevant Inuit knowledge
Forgotten History
• Limited understanding of Inuit history among youth
• Inuit history not taught in Nunavut (or southern Canada)
• Painful to talk about
History & Identity
• Knowing one’s history to make sense of personal & community experiences
• Rediscovering, celebrating & re-enforcing identity
History & Resistance
“First of all I'd like to say that Inuit were treated back then as if they were stupid. They knew how to hunt well and how to survive on the land but then, what did they get? White people writing them a book of wisdom which Inuit already had! From reading the documents we have been looking at, Inuit stayed quiet and tried to listen to the White people...What the white
people did not know then was
Inuit were already smart enough
to live their lives...”
-Amy Owingayak, August 22 2010
Elders
• Cross-generational dialogue & understanding
• Culturally & socially reaffirming for Elders & youth
• Healing generational trauma
Elders & Strength
“I'm amazed by these Elders I'm watching who were all mistreated by the Canadian Government - Yet they still stand strong. I'm even more amazed how they know the environment around them. We're losing it.”
-Jordan Konek, August 2 2012
Filmmaking
Digital Media: Nanisiniq.tumblr.com
What does this project mean to me?
Acknowledgements
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
• Sivulinuut Elders Society • Nunavut Research Institute• Nunavut Arctic College
References• Hicks, J. (2004, January 24). Nunavut Kiglisiniaqtiit: Evaluation
and Statistics. Presentation to the Founding Conference of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Council, Iqaluit, NU.
• Korhonen, M. (2006). Suicide prevention: Inuit traditional practices that encouraged resilience and coping. Retrieved from the Ajunnginiq Centre, National Aboriginal Health Organization website: http://www.naho.ca/inuit/e/resources/documents/SuicidePrevention-FinalEnglish_000.pdf
• Tester, F. J., & McNicoll, P. (2004). Isumagijaksaq: Mindful of the state: Social constructions of inuit suicide. Social Science & Medicine, 58(12):2625-2636.
• White, Patrick (2010, June 5). Inuit mothers fight for their children’s health. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=25989
