Nunavut Arctic College

Mr. Speaker, Amaqqut Nunaat, the Country of Wolves, is a film inspired by a story from the late author and Arviat Elder Mark Kalluak. This impressive production was produced by Louise Flaherty and directed by Neil Christopher of Inhabit Media. This film is dedicated to Mark.

Mr. Speaker, Amaqqut Nunaat represents Inhabit Media’s first animated production and serves as a spectacular example of the artistic and creative talent that can be found here in Nunavut.

Mr. Speaker, this wonderfully-produced short film celebrated its North American premiere at the imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival last October in Toronto.

In Toronto, the film was awarded with the honours of Best Canadian Short Drama and the Cynthia-Lickers Sage Award for Emerging Talent, Best Animation at the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, California, Best Animated Film at the SENE Film, Music & Arts Festival in Rhode Island, USA, Best Narrative Short at the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival in Austin, Texas.

Mr. Speaker, Amaqqut Nunaat has been shown at film festivals across Canada and around the world. From places like Quebec, Ohio; California; Colorado; the Yukon; Alaska, Ontario, Scotland and Finland; this film is introducing Inuit stories and legends to audiences all over the world!

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Neil Christopher, a faculty member with our Nunavut Teacher Education Program and Louise Flaherty, the College’s Director of Inuit Language and Culture Programs for their work on this incredible project.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my fellow Members and Nunavummiut to see this film and to continue supporting Nunavut’s growing arts, film media industry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.