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Shaman

This animated short tells the story of a ferocious polar bear turned to stone by an Inuk shaman. The tale is based on emerging filmmaker Echo Henoche's favourite legend, as told to her by her grandfather in her home community of Nain, Nunatsiavut, on Labrador's North Coast. Hand-drawn and painted by Henoche in a style all her own, Shaman is the first collaboration between the Labrador artist and the NFB.
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This animated short tells the story of a ferocious polar bear turned to stone by an Inuk shaman. The tale is based on emerging filmmaker Echo Henoche's favourite legend, as told to her by her grandfather in her home community of Nain, Nunatsiavut, on Labrador's North Coast. Hand-drawn and painted by Henoche in a style all her own, Shaman is the first collaboration between the Labrador artist and the NFB.

Literature and Language Indigenous Peoples in Canada (Inuit) All subjects
Animation All channels
Indigenous Cinema
  • director
    Echo Henoche
  • participation
    Althaya Solomon
    Karrie Obed
    Echo Henoche
  • hand drawn animation
    Echo Henoche
  • mentoring animator
    David Seitz
    Élise Simard
    Glenn Gear
  • story consultant
    Asinnajaq
  • cultural consultant
    Asinnajaq
    Michelle E. Smith
  • compositor
    David Seitz
    Glenn Gear
  • music supervisor
    Luigi Allemano
  • sound design
    Luigi Allemano
  • foley
    Karla Baumgardner
  • production manager
    Mylène Augustin
    Dara Moats
  • researcher
    Michelle E. Smith
  • online editor
    Yannick Carrier
  • titles
    Jacques Bertrand Simard
  • head, Technical resources
    Pierre Ferlatte
    Steve Hallé
    Julie Laperrière
  • technical director
    Éloi Champagne
  • technical animation coordinator
    Randall Finnerty
  • project technical coordinator
    Jean-François Laprise
    Daniel Lord
  • digital editing technician
    Pierre Dupont
    Isabelle Painchaud
    Patrick Trahan
  • recording
    Geoffrey Mitchell
  • re-recording mixer
    Jean Paul Vialard
  • mentor
    Claire Blanchet
    Fred Casia
    Glenn Gear
    Jonathan Ng
    Hyun Jin Park
    David Seitz
    Élise Simard
    Asinnajaq
    Jonathan Wright
  • trainer
    Claire Blanchet
    Fred Casia
    Glenn Gear
    Jonathan Ng
    Hyun Jin Park
    David Seitz
    Élise Simard
    Asinnajaq
    Jonathan Wright
  • inuktitut translation
    Joan Dicker
  • marketing manager
    Geneviève Bérard
  • publicist
    Pat Dillon
  • publicity stills
    Barry Pottle
  • publicity video
    Angel Trasgallo Carpio
  • senior production coordinator
    Isabelle Limoges
  • production coordinator
    Christine Williams
  • transportation coordinator
    Melina Mesher
  • program administrator
    Leslie Anne Poyntz
    Camila Blos
  • business affairs
    Christian Pitchen
  • producer
    Kat Baulu
  • executive producer
    Annette Clarke
  • executive director
    Michelle van Beusekom

Education

Ages 8 to 18

Notes

A beautiful animation that tells a story through art and traditional music. This film would be great for learning more about Inuit art forms and cultural practices of survival related to spirituality, land and animals. What are traditional Inuit beliefs in relation to the polar bear? What story is being told through images and sounds? What type of singing is heard and how is it unique to Inuit? Why is it important for Inuit to tell their own stories? How is animation a great choice for telling stories like this one?

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Shaman
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