A group of young Inuvialuit filmmakers, researchers, and community members are set to debut Happening to Us, a highly anticipated documentary born from a participatory video research project in Tukoytaktuk, NWT Canada.
The initiative is led by researcher Maéva Gauthier, producer and filmmaker Jaro Malanowski, and Michèle Tomasino, Vice Principal and teacher of Mangilaluk school, with the support of Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation.
“Building relationships and friendships through this community-based research project has made my research journey so much more meaningful,” said Gauthier.
The project, which included Inuvialuit youth-filmmakers Eriel Lugt, Carmen Kuptana, Nathan Kuptana, Darryl Tedjuk, and Brian Kikoak, aimed to inspire collaboration, action, and engage decision-makers and stakeholders around specific issues. It used a community-based research methodology that enables residents to co-create films with researchers.
“We decided to focus on climate change, coastal erosion and culture loss in our film,” said Carmen. “We wanted to show people that climate change is not happening in the future - it’s happening to us, right now,” she added.
It is estimated that the entire townsite of Tuktoyaktuk will be uninhabitable by 2050, given the present rates of coastal erosion, sea level rise and permafrost thaw. (Credit: Eriel Lugt)
In Tuktoyaktuk, residents face the realities of climate change displacement within their community. Present rates of coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and permafrost thaw are projected to render the entire townsite unviable by 2050.
According to Gauthier, “The world needs to feel the impacts climate change has on people’s lives, and the use of film is such a powerful tool.”
Emphasizing the importance of collaboration between researchers and the community, Carmen urges researchers to find ways to connect with communities and people living in the Arctic, saying it will enrich their research and lives.
“Our people often view researchers as caring and wanting to help us. Some do, and they respect the land and immerse themselves in our culture and the people. Others, not so much,” she said.
Lugt added that researchers should actively seek opportunities to support young Indigenous people in the areas where they conduct their work.
“Get in touch with the local schools, engage with classrooms and build these relationships,’ she added.
More than six years in the making, this film has sparked a new generation of Inuvialuit filmmakers and led to the creation of the Tuk TV Collective, a youth-led production and media collaboration in Tuktoyaktuk.
"The world is fortunate to have such talented filmmakers, and I eagerly anticipate the stories they will continue to share"
According to Malanowski, all the youth involved bring an extraordinary blend of passion, talent, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to powerful storytelling.
“Their dedication to highlighting the experiences and challenges of their community is both inspiring and vital. Their values are woven into every frame. The world is fortunate to have such talented filmmakers, and I eagerly anticipate the stories they will continue to share,” she said.
Working on this project has changed the lives of the youths who participated. They interviewed two mayors from Tuktoyaktuk and elders from their community. They also interviewed former Environment and Climate Change Minister and lawyer Catherine McKenna, as well as Natan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.
“Jaro and Maéva helped us understand how important our voices are,” said Carmen.
Carmen interviewing Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami for ‘Happening to Us’ in 2019. (Credit: Maéva Gauthier)
The Inuvialuit youth also had opportunities to ride in helicopters to capture aerial footage, shadow researchers to study coastal erosion, and develop communication and leadership skills.
“Carmen, Darryl, and I would go to school after school or when we didn’t have classes. Hours would fly by. It didn’t feel like work; it was so much fun,” said Lugt.
Tomasino adds that Carmen, Lugt, Nathan, and Tedjuk became local mentors to many of the community’s youth through this process.
“Our youth have had more filmmaking opportunities and workshops. We now have a much larger team of youth trained to use the Tuk TV equipment,” she added.
Early work on ‘Happening to Us’ has led to many opportunities, such as invitations to screen a short version at COP25 in 2019. Furthermore, Carmen and Lugt debuted their first independent short film earlier this year at the Skábmagovat Indigenous Film Festival in Inari, Finland.
“Watching them evolve as filmmakers and mentors to the next generation of Inuvialuit youth has been remarkable,” Malanowski shared. “Their dedication to intergenerational mentorship with Tuk TV is crucial in building a strong foundation for future storytellers.”
This project has also inspired the Inuvialuit youth to work and contribute to their communities in different ways. For instance, it led to many Inuvialuit youths’ involvement with the CINUK Carving out Climate Testimony Research project and other research projects.
“The younger grades saw the short version of the film during the community premiere in June of 2019, before the students went to COP25. Students asked immediately how they could join Tuk TV and learn how to make films,” shared Tomasino.
The full-length version of Happening to Us will premiere in early 2026. The team hopes to feature the film in several festivals following its release. To find out where you can see it, follow Tuk TV’s Facebook page.
Banner Image: Happening to Us Film crew with lateElder Randal 'Boogie' Pokiak after a day of filming in Tuktoyaktuk. Back row (left to right): Jaro Malanowski, Eriel Lugt, Brian Kikoak, Michèle Tomasino, Maéva Gauthier. Bottom row (left to right): Darryl Tedjuk, Carmen Kuptana, Elder Randal Pokiak (Boogie), Nathan Kuptana (Muk). (Photo credit: Johan Stroman)
