Channel 51: Igloolik - Atanarjuat

Mar 5, 2018 to Apr 12, 2018, North Space

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Channel 51: Igloolik is an exhibition presented across Humber Galleries’ two locations celebrating 30 years of expansive industry-changing video production from Igloolik, a remote community of 1600 people in Nunavut. Channel 51: Igloolik – Atanarjuat at North Space reveals the making of the internationally renowned film Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner. Bringing Inuit stories to the world stage, Atanarjuat completely shattered expectations when Isuma won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes Film Festival in 2001. This collection of polaroid photos offers a glimpse behind the scenes of Isuma Video Collective’s unique approach to community-based filmmaking by showing the faces and moments which made the Atanarjuat such a significant endeavour.

Both Isuma and sister organization Arnait Video Production have contributed a vast body of work about contemporary Inuit visual culture to the world. Challenging stereotypes about ways of life in the North, these boundary-breaking video collectives are still going strong. In fact, Isuma has the honour of representing Canada at the 2019 Venice Biennale. Be sure not to miss Channel 51: Igloolik – Chill Zone, the sister exhibition at L Space, which brings together a reading room; mediathèque with titles from Arnait and Isuma dating back to 1988; and film paraphernalia, artwork, and historical objects from Isuma’s own collection. This pair of exhibitions present an opportunity to see what has been accomplished over three decades.

For more info, visit www.isuma.tv/retrospective
Arnait Video Productions: arnaitvideo.ca
Isuma Video Collective: isuma.tv

Guest Curator: Asinnajaq (Isabella Weetaluktuk)

Asinnajaq, known also as Isabella Weetaluktuk, is an Inuk visual artist, writer, and curator. She if from Inukjuak, Nunavik and grew up in Montreal. Asinnajaq’s first job was travelling the Inuit Nunangat. During this time she was lucky to take in the immense beauty of places like the Torngat Mountains, Diana Island and the fjords of Baffin Island. This was also an opportunity to see many animals, old food caches, and the site of a Thule whale bone dwelling near Resolute Bay. While looking for her next move Asinnajaq made a storyboard for her father, Jobie Weetaluktuk’s, next film. This small task turned into the Assistant Director position, and the chance to film in Inukjuak, the place where many of Isabella’s aunts, uncles and cousins live. Inspired, Asinnajaq jumped into film school and complete her first film with the National Film Board, titled Three Thousand. Asinnajaq moves to honour the past and create a foundation for the future.