Kiviaq Versus Canada (2006)
Source: http://planetinfocus.org/festival/kiviaq-versus-canada
In Edmonton Alberta, Zacharias Kunuk, internationally renowned Inuit director meets Kiviaq, Canada's first Inuit lawyer. A former Golden Gloves boxing champion, a City Alderman, Kiviaq was also the only Inuk ever to play on the Edmonton Eskimos CFL football team. He arrived in the city as a young boy and was told to shed his Inuit identity. Now dying of cancer, he is focused on the last and most important fight of his life - suing the Canadian government to secure for the Inuit the same official status as all the other aboriginal peoples of Canada. Through the efforts of this extraordinary individual, we witness Zacharias Kunuk experience new ways to stand up for his own rights as an Inuk in this exceptional political documentary.
Zacharias Kunuk was nine years old when his family gave up their nomadic lifestyle and settled in the new government town of Igloolik. As a co-founder and creative member of the Igloolik Isuma Productions team, Kunuk’s credits include documentaries Nipi (Voice, 1999) and Nanugiurutiga (My First Polar Bear, 2001); and the internationally acclaimed feature film, Atanarjuat The Fast Runner (2000). Recipient of an Aboriginal Achievement Award in 2000 and a National Arts Award in 2001, Kunuk was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. Kunuk still lives full time in Igloolik where he hunts as often as he can.
