Tallurutiup Imanga consulation in the High Arctic ( 5 communities) in early winter 2018 + in Arctic Bay for the Guardians program in the fall 2018

Why and Impact

One of my best clients, one for which I enjoy working very much. I also really like what they do and stand for. Tallurutiup Imanga is very much so in the media and a big announcement is about to happen. Huge in the environmental protection world. Very important for Inuit in Nunavut.

I had the pleasure of traveling to 5 communities (Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet, and Clyde River) that are directly affected by the creation the largest Canadian protected conservation area; Tallurutiup Imanga, for the consultations that QIA had organized at the beginning of the year in 2018. The QIA team of which I was part of, met with the five communities on the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement (IIBA) that will lead to the creation of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area.

QIA’s Chief Negotiator on the Tallurutiup Imanga Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement, Sandra Inutqi, hosted community meetings in the above 5 communities. The goals of those meetings was for QIA to get feedback on the Tallurutiup Imanga Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement as well as find out from communities what should be included in this agreement.

QIA was not only business on this trip, they also brought entertainment along with performance led by Qaggiavuut’s Natashia Allakariallak and Jerry Laisa. The Qaggiavuut artists also led children’s workshops in each community.

It was so great to be part of this process and interview so many people; elders, hunters, youth and a great variety of people from those communities. Wanna know what is looks like at -40 in Grise Fiord, Canada’s most northern community, population of about 130, in January when it is pitch dark ? Have a look at the below video:

Or wanted to see what the first light looks in Pond Inlet after months of darkness? Have a look at those surreal colours while there is a bit of light:

You can have a look at the 5 communities here:

https://www.qia.ca/qia-met-with-five-communities-in-the-high-arctic-impacted-by-the-tallurutiup-imanga-iiba/

Summer of 2018

Community based monitoring: QIA has hired environmental/wildlife monitors who will be working on a rotating seasonal schedule. The monitors will gather information on harvested animals through surveys. They will compile data on physical and behavioural observations as well as GPS information to track the distribution and population of wildlife that people depend on for food. The project is funded in partnership with the Nunavut General Monitoring Plan (NGMP) and Oceans North. All the data received will feed into a GIS system to produce monthly map updates and various reports for the benefit of community members. The information can help inform Inuit decision making on policy, advocacy, and management on issues that affect Inuit rights.

Pond Inlet is one of the communities in Nunavut that is spectacular, in July of 2018, I went to document the work of 3 young hunters that are part of the above community based monitoring program put in place by QIA and their partners. I went seal hunting with Jonas, Don and Thiffany. no luck that day , but it was still very nice to be on the water and to visit Pond Inlet.

Qaggiavuut

Amongst the numerous projects I had the pleasure of filming and editing for Qaggiavuut,  is a memorable trip to in Baker Lake in the great company of Annie Petaulassie.

While there, she interviewed elders Winnie Putumiraqtuq and Jean Simailak.  We also filmed two young throat singers performed 

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

August of 2018:

 A pisiit course was taught by 6 elders and knowledge-keepers from the 3 regions of Nunavut:  Sidone Nirlungayuq (Kugaaruk), Bernadette Uttaq (Taloyoak), Madeline Ivalu (Igloolik), Miriam Aglukark (Gjoa Haven), Susan Avingaq (Igloolik) and Francis Qapuk (Rankin Inlet).  Over the duration of a week, this course was a gathering of 30 Inuit , emerging and established artists, who participated in this historic course that successfully revitalized these songs that were at a risk of being lost.  This ancient Inuit music that includes chant-like songs, called Pisiit are normally accompanied by Inuit drums and touch on resilience, survival, healing and joy mostly.  This course delivered in Inuktitut is fundamental to the Qaggiq School of Performing Arts. At the end of the workshop, the group, elders and artists, performed publicly for the delight of the many Iqalumiuits that gathered to see and hear those revitalized pisiits.  The objective of the course is for participants to continue to study and share the Pisiit with youth and in their communities. 

You can go see some of those Pisiit performed live by the elders accompanied by the artists recorded and edited by yours truly with multiple cameras.  If you have never seen or heard one, I definitely recommend taking a few minutes to listen and watch.  

Furthermore, you can watch some of the youth who were in the workshop talk about their rich experience learning those Pisiit from the elders:

November 2018: Arctic Song Music Performance Course for established musicians part of the Qaggiq School of Performing Arts launched in July.

20 selected performing artists from all regions of Nunavut took part in a week long course with focus on revitalizing traditional pisiit songs, once banned during colonization.

The course culminated with public performance at the overpacked Francophone Centre.  The fact that the venue was not big enough to receive everyone and have a seat for all was yet another unfortunate big reminder of how much Nunavut needs a dearly a performing arts center.

Moreover, another example of this, what the four different limited space locations in which the course and training took part during the week.

You could not be at the show and or are curious to see what a revitalize traditional song looks and sounds like, have a look at he this multi-cameras video I had the pleasure to film and edit. 

February 2019:  again lacking a proper space to rehearse and prepare, Inuit artists from all region of Nunavut went down to Montreal in order to get ready to showcase their brilliant revitalization of ancient Inuit drum songs at the International Folk Alliance.  This what a great opportunity for them to secure performing work all round the world at music festivals and events.  They did then went on to tour across Canada and Nunavut to entertain people and teach youth this very special music.

Here below is one of the traditional pisiit song they performed at the Folk Alliance showcase evening:

Want to see how they prepare throughout the week at the National Theatre School and how much fun they had.  Here are very fun montage VDOpro filmed and edited on Mr. Lazarus Qattalik's very up beat Inirkukuga song:

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) – Community Consultations and Monitoring Program

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) is a very important organization in Nunavut. Representing over 15,000 Inuit across 13 communities in the Qikiqtani region, they serve an advocacy and administrative role in protecting, advancing and promoting the rights of Inuit.

Community Consultations - Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area

I had the pleasure of travelling with a team from QIA to five Nunavut communities (Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet and Clyde River) that are directly affected by the creation of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area (TINMCA), the largest protected conservation area in Canada at 108,000 square kilometres. The purpose of our travel was to engage with community members by sharing information and holding Inuit Impact and Benefit consultations related to the TINMCA. Sandra Inutqi, QIA’s Chief Negotiator on the Tallurutiup Imanga Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement, hosted meetings in the communities to garner feedback and input on the development of the agreement.

In addition to the consultations, QIA also brought along performing artists from Qaggiavuut. Natasha Allakariallak and Jerry Laisa performed for audiences and led children’s workshops in each community.

Personally, it was such a great experience to be a small part of this process. Meeting and interviewing elders, hunters, youth and many other people was truly interesting and enjoyable. Check out the following videos to see some highlights from our travels:

Grise Fiord (Canada’s most northern community)

Pond Inlet (some surreal colours visible after months of darkness)

More information and video available from QIA -

https://www.qia.ca/qia-met-with-five-communities-in-the-high-arctic-impacted-by-the-tallurutiup-imanga-iiba/

Several years of research, planning, community consultations, negotiation and advocacy work related to the creation of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area, culminated with the announcement on August 1, 2019 that the Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement (IIBA) was signed. I was there to document this historic moment, including Prime Minister Trudeau’s visit to Nunavut, juggling both video and photography.

The agreement details how the IIBA can evolve to include Tuvaijuittuq should it be permanently protected. In addition, through other federal programs, the Government of Canada will be investing in infrastructure, harbours and a training centre in support of the five communities involved - Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Grise Fiord, Pond Inlet and Resolute Bay.

Go to QIA’s website to see the full details of the agreement and see some of my photos and video (www.qia.ca).

Community-based Monitoring Program

One of QIA’s initiatives includes the hiring of environmental/wildlife monitors who will compile data on physical and behavioural observations related to harvested animals. The monitors will track the distribution and population of wildlife that people depend on for food and input the data into a Geographic Information System to produce monthly mapping and reporting for the benefit of community members. The database of information can then be utilized to inform Inuit decision-making related to policy, advocacy and management of issues that affect Inuit rights.

I visited Pond Inlet, a spectacular Nunavut community, to document the work of three young hunters that are part of the community-based monitoring program. We spent a day seal hunting with Jonas, Don and Thiffany, and while we had no luck, it was great to be with them on the water and to visit Pond Inlet.