Bowhead!

A quiet, respectful documentary that follows a community's long fight to reclaim a tradition, moving patiently between history and the sea.

Directed by

Paul Apak Angilirq, Zacharias Kunuk

Genres

Documentary

Overview

In 1994 one of Canada’s most respected Inuit elders -95 year old Noah Piugatuk – announced that he wanted to taste the bowhead whale one more time before he died. Honouring the elders wish, Piugatuk’s son-in-law caught an illegal whale near Igloolikin September 1994. A few months later, the whale hunters were charged and ordered to stand trial. In June 1996, the government finally dropped all charges against the Igloolik hunters. In august 1996, Inuit hunters from across the arctic gathered in Repulse Bay to catch the first legal bowhead in more than forty years. Arviq! traces the history of the bowhead in the Arctic up to the first legal hunt in 1996.

How it feels

Earnest, melancholic and warm. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Trauma, identity, survival, family

Content

No violence, gore, sexual content or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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