"Aputili?" or "Where's the snow?" Video

We just finished a short film by Roselynn Akulukjuk called "Aputili?". The name of this cilmate change related piece aptly translates as  "Where's the snow?".

Working with Roselynn on this project was amazing. Her and fellow filmmaker and researcher Julie Alivaktuk wanted to interview a local elder about climate change. We visited Anna Akulukjuk and she told us some riveting stories about her life and the changes that she's seen. She talked about growing up and sewing caribou parkas and eating frozen fish because it was so cold in the old days. Now, the weather is hotter, and the warm parkas of the past are not needed much anymore. A simple yet direct observation of how the Arctic and its people are being affected by the warming. Anna indicates that there's not as much snow and sea ice as there used to be. Hence the name of the film: Aputili?

This project was remarkable on a number of fronts. Roselynn and Julie's enthusiasm for filmmaking, interviewing elders, and actually reliving the past was absolutely awesome. Check out the traditional tatoos that Roselynn had painted on to get into character. Very cool. Working with these two young women has been inspiring and intense. I particularly like Roselynn's video given that it's entirely in Inuktitut and uses an elder's words for its content. These young women have mastered both research and filmmaking. Enjoy.

Filmmaker: Roselynn Akulukjuk

Filmmaker Contact:

roselyn-12 [at] hotmail [dot] com

Producer's Name: Igloolik Isuma Productions and Innusivut

Year of Production: 2009

Country: Canada

Region: Pangnirtung