Angry Inuk

Directed by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril

Canada, 2016 (documentary, 82 minutes, colour, English / Inuktitut)

Also known as "Inuk en colère"

Image: © National Film Board of Canada

Video (National Film Board of Canada)

Film Description:
"In her film Angry Inuk, Inuit director Alethea Arnaquq-Baril joins a new tech-savvy generation of Inuit as they campaign to challenge long-established perceptions of seal hunting. Though most commercial sealing is conducted by Inuit in the Arctic, anti-sealing activism has created a perception of the industry that denies their central role in the sealskin market. To reinsert themselves into the international discussion, these Inuit activists must inconvenience the fundraising campaigns of animal groups by using all the tricks in the social media book, and invent some of their own along the way, like 'sealfies.' [...]"
-- National Film Board of Canada (source)

Film Credits (partial):
Written by:	Alethea Arnaquq-Baril
Produced by:	Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Bonnie Thompson, Bob Moore, Daniel Cross, David Christensen
Participants:	Aaju Peter, Joannie Ikkidluak, Lasaloosie Ishulutak, Isuaqtuq Ikkidluak, Mikijuk Kolola, Joshua Kango, Meeka Mike, Niore Iqalukjuak, Jeannie Padluq, Annie Ikkidluak, Natsiq Kango
Cinematography:	Qajaaq Ellsworth
Animation:	Jonathan Wright
Film Editing:	Sophie Farkas Bolla
Music:	Florencia di Concilio
Production Company:	Unikkaat Studios Inc., National Film Board of Canada / Office national du film du Canada

(sources)

Notes about Angry Inuk

Shown at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2016.
Selected as one of the ten best Canadian feature films of 2016 for the Canada's Top Ten Film Festival in 2017.

(sources)

Quote by the Director

"The number one thing that is protecting the environment and the animals in the Arctic are the hunters who are out there on the land fighting the mining companies, the Canadian government, the uranium mine companies and for whale sanctuaries. Our hunters are the number one guardians of the Arctic, if people truly wanted to protect the Arctic, they would be supporting our hunters. Our hunters hunt all kinds of animals, but one of the few ways they could make an income is selling seal skins. It might be counterintuitive for a lot of people, but supporting seal hunting and buying seal skin helps protect the environment in the Arctic."
-- Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (source)

Quote about Angry Inuk

"Angry Inuk contains important Indigenous messages the world needs to hear. Directed by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Inuit), the documentary seeks to inform audiences how animal rights groups, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Humane Society International, are negatively impacting Inuit people's livelihood with their anti-seal campaigns. Inuit communities were ignored by animal activist groups who were instrumental in imposing the seal skin bans in Europe, southern Canada and America. The documentary follows hunters, craftspeople and families from Kimmirut, Nunavut while interweaving beautiful shots of vast Arctic landscapes, offering viewers an in depth look into the culture, lives and struggles of the Inuit people after the ban."
-- Erica Commanda (source)

Bibliography for Angry Inuk

Articles from Newspapers, Magazines, or News Websites

Commanda, Erica. "Angry Inuk: Why is the seal skin ban wrong?" Muskrat Magazine, April 4, 2016.

Web Sites about Angry Inuk

National Film Board of Canada. "NFB -- Angry Inuk." National Film Board of Canada. http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=60706.
National Film Board of Canada. "NFB -- Angry Inuk." National Film Board of Canada. https://www.nfb.ca/film/angry_inuk/.
Office national du film du Canada. "ONF -- Inuk en colère." Office national du film du Canada. http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/fr/notre-collection/?idfilm=65234. [in French]