Filming for our future

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

Questions

• Blog: Nanisiniq.tumblr.com• Twitter: @NanisiniqArviat• Email: [email protected]