“The ATV I won from Ilagiisaq/FCNQ” – Sammy Etok
In his home town, Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, everybody uses All Terrain Vehicle (ATVs) to get around, so young Sammy Etok was thrilled to have won a Honda ATV of his own! He wanted to give thanks to Ilagiisaq / FCNQ for having drawn his name during their 50th Anniversary gala festivities.
“A Shaman Helping A Hunter In Need Of Food” – Mattiusi Iyaituk
In his home community of Ivujivik, Nunavik, sculptor Mattiusi Iyaituk creates a masterpiece on film. During the making of “Flying Shaman,” Mattiusi relates ancient Inuit shamans and their animal spirit helpers to the co-operative value of helping the people, and finds affinity to the work of the late Henry Moore.
« Un chaman aidant un chasseur en manque de nourriture » – Mattiusi Iyaituk
Dans sa communauté natale d’Ivujivik, au Nunavik, le sculpteur Mattiusi Iyaituk crée un chef-d’œuvre filmé. Lors de la réalisation de “Flying Shaman”, Mattiusi relie les anciens chamans inuits et leurs assistants spirituels animaux à la valeur coopérative d’aider les gens, et trouve une affinité avec le travail de feu Henry Moore.
“Carving For Survival” – Saroillie Weetaluktuk
Anyone familiar with the beginnings of contemporary Inuit art has heard of James Houston’s visit to Inukjuak in 1948 – but Saroillie Weetaluktuk explains that it took two people to envision Inuit art at the start, and gives the additional credit to Conlucy Nayoumealook.
“Dear Little Five Cents” – Sarah Grey
Sarah Grey of Kangirsuk has been a force in Nunavik’s co-operative movement for decades. She recounts how, while he still worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company, Peter Murdoch used the concept of a little five-cent piece to help Inuit earn their freedom.
“We’re Not Terrified Any More” – Lucassie Napaluk
“It’s people helping one another, the co-operative,” says Lucassie Napaluk of Kangiqsujuaq. And the co-ops took away people’s terror of being abandoned by the fur trading companies. But without a federation to hold them all together, he doubts Nunavik’s 14 co-operatives would even exist today.
“Giving Power To The People” – Sokchiveneath Taing Chhoan
Sokchiveneath Taing Chhoan was one of the last boat people to escape Cambodia’s killing fields. As Senior Manager of Socio-Economic Development for Ilagiisaq / Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec (FCNQ), he talks about his original family – and how he found a whole new “family” he could help.
“The Crees and The Inuit”
In 2017, on the East Coast of Hudson Bay, we visited Nunavik’s southernmost reach, where we found the twin communities of Kuujjuarapik and Whapmagoostui. One Inuit, the other Cree, but sharing a co-operative. Elders and community leaders explained how that works.