THE FORGOTTEN REELS OF NUNAVUT’S ANIMATION WORKSHOP (THE LEGACY)
THE FORGOTTEN REELS OF NUNAVUT’S ANIMATION WORKSHOP (THE LEGACY)
Let’s explore one of the most captivating and intricate chapters of Indigenous filmmaking at the NFB: the 58 films made by 13 Inuit filmmakers at a 1972 workshop in Kinngait (then known as Cape Dorset), on Baffin Island in Nunavut. These films have been retrieved, restored, digitized and made available for free on NFB.ca to celebrate National Indigenous Heritage Month.
Arctic Workshop Reel 3, , provided by the National Film Board of Canada
Note that this is the second part of my blog post on the “Arctic animation workshop,” formally known as the Cape Dorset Film Animation Workshop. Click on this link if you’d like to read the first part, “The Forgotten Reels of Nunavut’s Animation Workshop: Beginnings.”
The First New Wave of Inuit Animation in Nunavut (1972–1975)
Despite the enthusiastic response from the National Film Board (NFB) to the success of John Taylor’s distribution of the studio’s work in Europe and North America, the Sikusilarmiut Animation Studio gradually lost momentum. Although some artists continued to produce films, the studio officially closed on December 1, 1975, following a meeting convened by Wolf Koenig.[i]
One major factor contributing to the studio’s decline was the lack of consistent supervision. It proved difficult to find qualified individuals willing to stay on Baffin Island for extended periods. As a result, the frequent turnover of advisors led to constant shifts in the style and focus of the training, which understandably caused confusion among the workshop members in Nunavut. Another challenge was the competition for talent between the Local Arts Cooperative and the animation workshop. Many of the studio’s animators eventually chose to join the co-op, including Salomonie J. Pootoogook, the workshop’s administrator and a key figure in the initiative.[ii]
Perhaps the most decisive issue, however, was the lack of interest among workshop members in producing the types of films requested by NFB advisors. The NFB encouraged the creation of socially oriented films—on topics such as alcohol education, dental health, land use and fire safety—but these subjects failed to resonate with the artists. Despite persistent efforts, only a few projects were completed in this vein (by the time the studio closed, television clips related to alcohol education had been produced—credited to Salomonie J. Pootoogook).[iii]
Finally, the departure of key artists also contributed to the studio’s closure. Salomonie J. Pootoogook took a full-time position at the local co-op (apparently as the co-op administrator), while Timmun Alariaq left to pursue a degree in animation at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (then known as the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts).[iv]
The Legacy of the Sikusilarmiut Animation Studio
Nevertheless, the Sikusilarmiut Animation Studio continued to produce work until November 1975. The NFB later compiled this final output into a second collection—Arctic Workshop Reels 4–7—which, like the earlier reels, remained unedited, unpublished and undigitized for 50 years.
Arctic Workshop Reel 4-7 (1975-21:45) Production: Wolf Koenig & John Taylor
This reel features 16 films (that still remain available for consultation only), showcasing work by both first-time contributors and returning filmmakers from earlier compilations. Many of the films include original songs—likely performed in Inuktitut—which makes their lyrical content largely inaccessible to non-Inuktitut speakers (like dozens of other films in these reels that have not been yet subtitled into any other language). However, the consistent pairing of music with visuals suggests something deeper: these works may be animated adaptations of traditional Inuit stories. If so, they could represent some of the earliest Inuit “video clips”—or audiovisual time capsules of Inuit oral storytelling traditions.
In total, the NFB compiled 58 films produced by the Sikusilarmiut Animation Studio (produced between 1972 and 1975). Additional records mention a few more works: an unknown number of one-minute television clips on alcohol education by Salomonie J. Pootoogook; an eight-minute animated film on the Inuktitut syllabic alphabet by Pia Pootookook; Fear the Fire, an eight-minute film exploring shamanism and magic by Timmun Alariaq; and Pills, a four-minute compilation of short films by various artists. However, no copies or official records of these titles have been identified in the NFB’s archives to date.
To conclude this two-part post, let’s turn to Sikusilarmiut (1975), a short documentary by Peter Raymont. This film blends animated sequences from the Cape Dorset Film Animation Workshop with live-action footage of the community in the 1970s. More than just a behind-the-scenes look at the animation process, it offers a rare glimpse into the studio itself—where local artists brought their visions to life—and introduces us to the innovators of Nunavut’s first wave of avant-garde cinema.
Sikusilarmiut, Peter Raymont, provided by the National Film Board of Canada
In sum, the workshop films represent a landmark chapter in Indigenous cinema at the NFB—both in scale and significance. With a total of 58 works, including the 41 works made by 13 artists that were recently rediscovered, restored, digitized and made publicly available, they mark the emergence of the first New Wave of Inuit animation from Nunavut.
Below is the list of the artists who participated in the Arctic Animation Workshops held in Cape Dorset, produced and supervised by the NFB between 1972 and 1975, along with the filmography each developed at the Sikusilarmiut Animation Studio in Nunavut:
- Aoudla Pudlat
A Man Walking & Running on the Ground [Reel 4, Film 5]
Untitled [Reel 3, Film 11] - Arniak Pingwartuk
Untitled [Reel 1, Film 8]
Untitled [Reel 1, Film 9]
Untitled [Reel 3, Film 2]
Untitled [Reel 3, Film 3]
Untitled [Reel 4, Film 6] - Ituli Etidloie
The Seal Crawling on the Ice [Reel 3, Film 8] - Ishohagitok E Tugat
Untitled [Reel 4, Film 1]
Untitled [Reel 4, Film 2]
Untitled [Reel 4, Film 3]
Untitled [Reel 4, Film 13]
Untitled [TBC-Reel 4, Film 14]
Untitled [TBC-Reel 4, Film 15]
Untitled [TBC-Reel 4, Film 16]
The Man is Making an Igloo [TBC-Reel 4, Film 17; unfinished?] - Itee Pootoogook
New Photos [Reel 1, Film 11]
Untitled [Reel 4, Film 8] - Kanayuk Pootoogook
Fish Story [Reel 2, Film 11] - Mathew Joanasie
The legend of the Sapputjuat River [Reel 2, Film 1]
Untitled [TBC-Reel 2, Film 2]
The Titled? [Reel 2, Film 4]
We can’t stay in one piece [Reel 2, Film 6]
Untitled [TBC-Reel 2, Film 7]
Something Else [Reel 2, Film 15]
Changes [Reel 2, Film 20]
Untitled [TBC-Reel 2, Film 21]
Changes [Reel 3, Film 4]
Shaman [Reel 3, Film 5]
Kanayuk [Reel 3, Film 6]
That’s Funny [Reel 3, Film 12] - Opik Pitseolak
Untitled [Reel 2, Film 10]
Untitled [Reel 2, Film 19] - Papirak Pudlalik
Untitled [Reel 1, Film 4]
Untitled [Reel 1, Film 5]
Untitled [Reel 1, Film 6]
The Owl [Reel 2, Film 16]
Untitled [Reel 3, Film 9]
Untitled [Reel 3, Film 10]
Untitled [Reel 4, Film 7] - Peter Pitseolak
Old Photos [Reel 2, Film 5] - Pitaloosie Saila
Good Day for Hunting[Reel 2, Film 12]
Inuktitut Christmas Games [Reel 2, Film 13]
Kanayuk [Reel 3, Film 7] - Salomonie J Pootoogook
Untitled [Reel 1, Film 7]
Untitled [Reel 2, Film 3]
Juggling [Reel 2, Film 14]
Magic Man[Reel 2, Film 17]
Ducks[Reel 2, Film 18]
Untitled [Reel 3, Film 1]
1950 [Reel 3, Film 4]
Untitled [Reel 3, Film 9]
Sorosilutoo [Reel 3, Film 10]
Television Clips [unidentified] - Timmun Alariaq
Untitled [Reel 1, Film 1]
The Loon [Reel 1, Film 2]
The Birth of Kayak [Reel 1, Film 3]
Inukshuk [Reel 1, Film 10]
Wolf and Caribou[Reel 1, Film 12]
Attempted Adultery and Rejected Love [Reel 1, Film 13]
Dancers [Reel 2, Film 8]
Pictures [Reel 2, Film 9]
(Fear the Fire) [unidentified]
- Pia Pootookook
(Inuktitut syllabic alphabet) [Unidentified] - Various Artists
(Pills) [Unidentified four-minute compilation of short films by various artists]
Header Image: Sikusilarmiut (1975) by Peter Raymont
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[i] NFB archives – Arctic Film Program – Wolf Koening Speech Report/Transcript
[ii] IBID
[iii] NFB archives – Arctic Film Program – Report on Arctic Film Activity
[iv] IBID
[v] This reel remains for consultation only upon request through NFB’s Customer Service.
