Indigenous film screening coming to Gallery 101

By Caitlin Galipeau

Gallery 101 is hosting a free indoor film screening on Feb. 18 to showcase indigenous filmmaking from the Arctic.

Unikkaaqtuarniq: Stories from the North began as an outdoor event last week that presented short films from Inuit and Sámi filmmakers on a continuous loop, projected on a wall of snow as part of Winterlude festivities. The films are showcased in partnership with the Ottawa Art Gallery and the Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival.

Unikkaaqtuarniq means “storytelling” in Inuit, according to a press release from Gallery 101. The event is meant to highlight stories from Canadian Inuit and Scandinavian Sámi people, and how their tales intersect despite living thousands of miles apart. Many of the filmmakers are Canadian, but there are also filmmakers from Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Laura Margita, director of Gallery 101, said in an email that the indoor screening will also feature a potluck for a traditional “Feast of the Dead” celebration, which will include “games, feasting, and a ceremony” officiated by Christopher Wong, president of the Odawa Native Friendship Centre.

The screening will be at 51 B Young St. from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. This event is wheelchair accessible.