Award-winning Nunavut documentary Qipisa connects filmmaker with her past

Qipisa, a "universal" storyabout the fight to maintain Inuit traditions in modern Nunavut society, picked up the Main FilmYoung Hope award at this week's Montreal First Peoples Festival.

The 35-minute documentary follows Myna Ishulutak as she visits theremote outpost, called Qipisa,where herancestors lived before settlement.

"It's kind of my life story," said Ishulutak."We started filming when I was packing to move back."

Ishulutak says she was prompted to create the film after one of her sons asked her about how Inuit once used qulliit [oil lamps].

"I was very surprised. [I thought]I'm not sharing my story."

Growing up in Pangnirtung, where people from Qipisa were forced to relocate, Ishulutak says she remembers her mother lighting the qulliq in their qammaq [sodhouse].

'Something was missing'

After consulting with elder MeekaArnaquq, her longtime mentor, Ishulutakdecided to set out making the film, though the process was difficult.

Ishulutak says she was going through something in her life at the time.

"It seemed like something was missing in me. I was searching."

Ada Mt, the film's cinematographer and editor, says the film, while deeply personal, "is universal."

Earlier this year, when a rough cut of the film was screened in Iqaluit, Mtsays elders and youth alike said "that's my story."

But Mtsays she was surprised when Quebecois at the Montreal First Peoples Festival felt the same way.

"When you feel removed from your grandparents' and parents' traditional knowledge, you feel removed from something that you care for. And you feel in some way, lost from it."

Emotional screening

The film was nominated for four awards at the festival and took home one the Main Film Young Hope award for first- or second-time filmmakers.

Ishulutak says she felt overwhelmedas she accepted the honour, speaking alternately in English and Inuktitut, "even through no one understood what I was saying," because speaking the language is such an important part of respecting the culture.

"I wasthinking about my ancestors, my grandfather," said Ishulutak."I got emotional even talking about it at the screening, talking about how my grandfather was a good leader at the camp."

Ishulutak and Mtsaythey wouldn't have been able to make the film or attend the festival, if it weren't for funding from NunavutFilm.

The pair wouldeventually like to broadcastthe film on television, where it can reach a broader audience.