Twenty-Five Years Presentation

Twenty-five years ago, Inuit Broadcasting Corporation first began bringing Inuit stories, issues, music, traditions and values into our homes on television screens. This was after an intensive multi year training program had been conducted in all aspects of television production. Before that time, everything we saw on television was from southern Canada and the United States and everything we heard was in English and once in awhile in French. IBC continues today to provide television programming, which is unique…it is television by Inuit, for Inuit and about Inuit. It is television that speaks directly to the Inuit audience in Nunavut and other Inuit regions but also to all Nunavummiut. It is Takuginai (our kids show), Kippinguijautiit (our cultural/entertainment show), Qaujisaut (our youth show), Niqitsiat (our cooking show) and Qanuq Isumavit (our live phone in show). It is also the many special productions that we have done over the years…Kikkik E1-472, Inuit Mittatiin (That’s Funny), Amarok’s Journey, Big Treasure Chest, Summer in the Life of Louisa, People of the Sands, to name a few.

IBC, over the course of twenty-five years has established production centres in all 3 regions of Nunavut and has trained hundreds of people in the production and broadcast distribution of television programming. Virtually all of the people currently working in the film, television and new media sector in Nunavut have been trained or have worked for IBC. IBC has provided opportunities for many people to work in the industry or to gain skills that are invaluable in many other sectors. Many of our leaders have worked with IBC at one time or another, including our Minister of Economic Development, who was there at the very beginning. IBC has also established a for profit subsidiary, Inuit Communications System Limited, which is a Professional Sony equipment sales dealership, provides video services for the Legislative Assembly, and does commercial production for government, Inuit organizations and the private sector. Between IBC and ICSL, approx. 35 jobs are sustained year round and approximately 15 freelance positions (equivalent to full time jobs) are available. In addition, support for productions and services are contracted to technicians, artist, musicians and outfitters. We are now in the process of venturing into the field of computer animation. With our partners, the National Film Board (NFB), we have acquired equipment and recently trained 15 people (mostly artists) in each of Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, and Cape Dorset in the basics of computer animation. Four of the trainees are now at the Banff New Media Institute where they are receiving further training and will each complete a short animated film for broadcast on APTN. One of the artist/filmmakers, thrilled with this new medium for his artwork, remarked that he thought computer animation might just be the next “printmaking” phenomenon for Nunavut. We are very excited about this venture and are thankful for the support from the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Film, NFB, National Screen Institute, Banff Centre for New Media, APTN and First Air.

It is IBC’s unique mandate and role that allows us to pull together partners and develop new avenues such as the animation project. It is also our mandate that has allowed us in the past to play the lead in developing a northern broadcast network, Television Northern Canada (TVNC). Our mandate also led us to organize and host “Connecting the North”, a virtual symposium that explored the opportunities of the information highway IBC fully intends to continue to be a leader in the film, television and new media sector in Nunavut. We will continue to produce the kind of television programming that Nunavummiut want and will continue to actively ensure relevant distribution. We are Nunavut’s public producer. We will continue to develop and produce distinct programming, which reflects Nunavut to Nunavummiut in a linguistically and culturally relevant manner. We will continue to provide training in all aspects of television production to as many people as possible and we will ensure that there are jobs for these people. While we are happy to share our work outside Nunavut, our focus is in Nunavut. IBC has been somewhat successful in showcasing our work throughout Canada and abroad…from live co-productions with NHK Japan to participating in conferences on children’s programming in London England to providing stock footage to productions in North America and abroad. Last year, IBC participated in the first Ajjiit Nunavut Trade Mission where we traveled to Denmark and I am happy to say that we are currently negotiating a sale of Takuginai shows to a broadcaster in Greenland and we look forward to participating in future missions. We have just been asked to contribute to a television newsmagazine show about indigenous issues in partnership with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.

Most importantly, we will continue to work with our current partners. including Ajjiit, Nunavut film, and the governments of Nunavut and Canada to actively seek new partnerships so that we can do our part in ensuring a strong, sustainable, and vibrant film, television and new media industry for Nunavut.

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