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Stories from Our Land 1.5: Inngiruti - The Thing that Sings!

This short documentary filmed in Pangnirtung features 2 elders reminiscing about the dances held in their community 50 years ago. One of the elders is master accordion player Simeonie Keenainak, and soon he's making toe-tapping music with his instrument. In this celebration of the pleasures of music and dance, Keenainak plays for the enjoyment of friends, family, and the community at large. Stories from Our Land: 1.5 gave 6 Nunavut filmmakers the opportunity to each create a 5-minute short. Each film had to be made without the use of interviews or narration while telling a northern story from a northern …
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This short documentary filmed in Pangnirtung features 2 elders reminiscing about the dances held in their community 50 years ago. One of the elders is master accordion player Simeonie Keenainak, and soon he's making toe-tapping music with his instrument. In this celebration of the pleasures of music and dance, Keenainak plays for the enjoyment of friends, family, and the community at large.

Stories from Our Land: 1.5 gave 6 Nunavut filmmakers the opportunity to each create a 5-minute short. Each film had to be made without the use of interviews or narration while telling a northern story from a northern perspective. The project was a collaboration between the NFB and the Nunavut Film Development Corporation.

Indigenous Peoples in Canada (Inuit) All subjects
Indigenous Cinema
  • writer
    Nyla Innuksuk
  • director
    Nyla Innuksuk
  • editor
    Nyla Innuksuk
  • cinematographer
    Nyla Innuksuk
  • director mentor
    Marlene Millar
  • participant
    Simeonie Keenainak
    Oasaloosie Ishulutak
  • production coordinator
    Ginette D'Silva
    Faye Yoneda
  • production supervisor
    Mark Power
  • marketing manager
    Leslie Stafford
  • program administrator
    Darin Clausen
  • producer
    David Christensen
  • executive producer
    David Christensen

Education

Ages 9 to 17

School Subjects

Indigenous Studies - Arts

Notes

Before screening the film, discuss Inuit music and the instruments typically used to perform it. Instruct the students to determine where the documentary was shot as they watch the film. Ask students to find out where “the thing that sings” originated. Discuss the significance of the ship mentioned in the film. Assign students to small groups to research the Inuktitut language and the syllabics used in its written form. Use the Inuktitut syllabics to write short sentences about Pangnirtung.

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Stories from Our Land 1.5: Inngiruti - The Thing that Sings!
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