Filming for our future
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This project involved Elders and youth from Arviat, Nunavut collaborating over two years on a multi-media history project. The goal was to address mental health issues among Inuit youth by fostering intergenerational understanding of Inuit history and culture. Elders shared their experiences of forced assimilation policies to help youth develop pride in Inuit identity and resilience. Filmmaking was used to document interviews and preserve Inuit history and traditions for future generations.
Filming for our future
- 1. Ashoka: Innovators for the Public Filming for Our future Socio-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
- 2. 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
- 3. Arviat, Nunavut 1,200 kilometers north of Winnipeg Third largest town in Nunavut Population approx. 3,000
- 4. Inuit History Most dramatic assimilation period in history Relocation Starvation Residential school An attempt to assimilate Inuit into western culture Tester & McNicoll (2004)
- 5. 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)
- 6. Generational Gap Decreased interaction between Elders and youth Impacts grasp of culturally, socially and geographically -relevant Inuit knowledge
- 7. Forgotten History Limited understanding of Inuit history among youth Inuit history not taught in Nunavut (or southern Canada) Painful to talk about
- 8. History & Identity Knowing ones history to make sense of personal & community experiences Rediscovering, celebrating & re- enforcing identity
- 9. 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
- 10. Elders Cross-generational dialogue & understanding Culturally & socially reaffirming for Elders & youth Healing generational trauma
- 11. 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
- 12. Filmmaking
- 14. What does this project mean to me?
- 15. Acknowledgements Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Sivulinuut Elders Society Nunavut Research Institute Nunavut Arctic College
- 16. 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/SuicidePr evention-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 childrens health. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=25989
- 17. Questions Blog: Nanisiniq.tumblr.com Twitter: @NanisiniqArviat Email: Nanisiniq@yahoo.ca
Editor's Notes
- #2: -explain that Are you Rich? was already presented at IPY, but the final slides are online at Nanisiniq.tumblr.com -explain that youre here presenting on behalf of a team
- #3: -Outline three topics were going to cover, implications for public health & health research: Mental health & wellness among youth, intergenerational connectedness, history, knowledge translation. -Asset-based approach
- #4: -audience participation: who here can tell me where Arviat is?
- #6: -Mental health is an important, yet currently minimally addressed issue in the Canadian North. Suicide rates in Nunavut are eight times the rate of those in southern Canada (Tester & McNicoll, 2004). The Baffin region of Nunavut has the highest male suicide rate at 133.9/100,000 and the highest female suicide rate at 47.1/100,000 (Tester & McNicoll, 2004). In the Baffin region as well as other regions of Nunavut, the prevalence of Inuit male (ages 15-29) suicide is among the highest in the world (Tester & McNicoll, 2004).
- #9: -Trained Inuit youth as historical researchers- examined archival document, pictures & film footage from the eastern Arctic, 1935-1970 -Many Inuit now living in Arviat underwent dramatic relocation from Ennadai Lake to Eskimo Point, now Arviat- starvations, TB, relocations -more of a change from one physical location to another, but attempts for psycho-social assimilation -History for healing
- #10: -History as a foundation for understanding -resistance
- #11: -I hear a lot of discussions of health at this conference that is defined as a lack of disease, but would argue that mental health & wellness is central to health for Inuit -Good relations are central to wellbeing and health in Inuit communities -if you have good relations, everything else is bearable & good -Working together
- #13: -knowledge translation- Zach Kunuk, said that the Video Camera is the best tool for research with Inuit communities -skills-based training, supports youth with employable skills- all youth involved went on to receive work in filmming, education, youth work -Participatory Filmmaking (resistance against dominant culture & TV/Internet) -creates space of resistance in research-relationships -implications participatory policy making
- #14: -educating researchers, communication & relationship building -Social media -Mention My Word storytelling project
- #15: -implications for Nunavut Arctic College & high school systems
- #16: -Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- #18: -Add blog site