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Stories from Our Land 1.5: If You Want to Get Married... You Have to Learn How to Build an Igloo!

In the spirit of the 1949 NFB classic How to Build an Igloo, this short film records Dean Ittuksarjuat as he constructs the traditional Inuit home. From the first cut of the snow knife, to the carving of the entrance after the last block of snow has been placed on the roof, this is an inside-and-out look at the entire fascinating process. 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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In the spirit of the 1949 NFB classic How to Build an Igloo, this short film records Dean Ittuksarjuat as he constructs the traditional Inuit home. From the first cut of the snow knife, to the carving of the entrance after the last block of snow has been placed on the roof, this is an inside-and-out look at the entire fascinating process.

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
Let it snow All channels
Indigenous Cinema
  • writer
    Allen Auksaq
  • director
    Allen Auksaq
  • editor
    Allen Auksaq
  • cinematographer
    Allen Auksaq
  • director mentor
    Marlene Millar
  • participant
    Dean Ittuksarjuat
  • 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 - Identity/Society
Before screening the film, discuss the possible meanings of its title. What skills are required before marriage? During the screening, ask students to record the steps involved in building an igloo. After viewing the film, discuss the knowledge and skills required to build an igloo. Assign students to small groups to research the connection between having the ability to build an igloo and getting married. Also have each group use a storyboard to represent the narration for the film.

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Stories from Our Land 1.5: If You Want to Get Married... You Have to Learn How to Build an Igloo!
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