Zacharias Kunuk
Dr. Zacharias Kunuk OC, ONu
Born in 1957 in a sod house on Baffin Island, Zacharias Kunuk was a carver in 1981 when he sold three sculptures in Montreal to buy a home-video camera and 27” TV to bring back to Igloolik, a settlement of 500 Inuit who had voted twice to refuse access to outside television. After working for six years for the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation as producer and station manager, Kunuk co-founded Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc. in 1990 with Paul Apak Angilirq, Pauloosie Qulitalik and Norman Cohn. In addition to Atanarjuat The Fast Runner, Kunuk has directed more than 30 films and videos screened in film festivals, theatres, museums and art galleries, including the award-winning Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman’s Apprentice (2021), which was shortlisted for the 2022 Oscars. He has honorary doctorates from Trent University and Wilfred Laurier University; is the winner of the Cannes Caméra d’Or, three Genie Awards, a National Arts Award, and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, and the 2017 Technicolor Clyde Gilmour Award from the Toronto Film Critics Association. In 2019, Zacharias Kunuk represented Canada at the 58th Venice Biennale (with the Isuma Artists Collective). Zacharias Kunuk was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2015 and an Officer of the Order of Nunavut in 2019.
Short Bio:
Zacharias Kunuk is a renowned filmmaker whose dramatic feature films include Atanarjuat The Fast Runner, which won the Camera d’Or at the Cannes film festival in 2001, and The Journals of Knud Rasmussen, codirected with Norman Cohn, which opened the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006. Kunuk is the winner of a National Arts Award, the National Aboriginal Achievement Award and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005. Earlier this year, Atanarjuat was voted the Best Canadian Film of all times by Toronto International Film Festival survey.
Additional Information,
Digital Indigenous Democracy (2012-14), the CMF Experimental Fund $1M project to support multimedia "Inform and Consult" by Inuit in the 2012 Baffinland Iron Mine environmental impact hearings. DID was produced by Isuma Distribution International and was the artistic subject of the 2015 film, Attatama Nunanga: My Father's Land, co-directed by Zacharias Kunuk and Norman Cohn.
DID produced 22 call-in radio shows and about 50 video interviews about mining that were introduced as a Formal Intervention into the 2012 Final Public Hearings and uploaded to the DID website www.isuma.ca/DID/humanrights.
Videography
Angakusajaujuq - The Shaman's Apprentice
2021, 21:00 minutes, Inuktitut, English w subtitles in English, French, Spanish
One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk
2019, 113:00 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut and English (available with English, French, or Spanish Subtitles)
Hunting With My Ancestors: Walrus Hunting Training Video
2018, 32:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English subtitles
Hunting With My Ancestors , Walrus Hunting Training Video
2018, 32:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English subtitles
Hunting With My Ancestors Episode 7: Caribou Hunt With Peter Suwaksiork
2018, 32:27 minutes, colour, Inuktitut
Hunting With My Ancestors Episode 6: Seal Pup Hunt
2018, 55:29 minutes, colour, Inuktitut
Hunting With My Ancestors Episode 4: Kivitoo - What They Thought of Us
2018, 43:11 minutes, colour, Inuktitut
Hunting With My Ancestors Episode 4: Kivitoo - What They Thought of Us
2018, 43:11 minutes, colour, Inuktitut
Hunting With My Ancestors Episode 3: Dog Team Bear Hunt
2018, 29:58 minutes, colour, Inuktitut
Hunting With My Ancestors Episode 2: Net Fishing Under the Ice
2018, 29:59 minutes, colour, Inuktitut
Stories of Our Elders SEASON 1
2016, 154:42 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 28: The Man with the Long Hair
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 27: The Owl and the Caribou
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 26: The Fox and The Rabbit
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 25: The Raven and The Owl
2016, 05:32 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 24: The Owls and The Rabbits
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 23: The Lonely Woman and the Polar Bears
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 22: Tungujuluk and Saunikoq, The Walrus and The Bear
2016, 05:34 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 21: Isigaligarssik, The Man Without a Wife
2016, 05:32 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 20: Imarasugssuaq, The Man who Ate his Wives
2016, 05:32 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 19: Sedna, The Ruler of the Sea
2016, 05:32 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 18: Tiggak, The Bear and The Snow Bunting
2016, 05:30 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 17: Qimmikussualuk, The Giant Dog
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 16: Lumaaq, The Woman Who Tricked Her Stepson
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 15: Mahaha, The Tickle Monster
2016, 05:32 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 14: Arnaaluk, The Giant Woman
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 13: Atungakkuuk, The World Traveler
2016, 05:32 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 12: The Woman and The Auvvik
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 11: Anarteq, The Man Who Became a Fish
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 10: The Seagull Who Married the Raven
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 9: Kiviuyk and the Old Woman
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 8: The Little Orphan Girl
2016, 05:31 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 7: Caribou and the Polar Bear
2016, 05:30 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 6: Bow and Arrow
2016, 05:30 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 5: The Child Taken by the Troll
2016, 05:30 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 4: The Man on the Moon
2016, 05:33 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 3: The Troll Story
2016, 05:35 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 2: Kaujakjuk
2016, 05:30 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
Stories of Our Elders Ep. 1: Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting
2016, 05:36 minutes, Colour, Inuktitut, English, French
2016, 94:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut (with English or French subtitles)
Attatama Nunanga (My Father's Land)
2015, 163:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English subtitles
2015, 90:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut only /no subtitles
ISUMA INUIT CLASSIC COLLECTION: 1987-2009
2015, colour, Inuktitut, French & English subtitles
2013, 46:34 minutes, colour, Inuktitut and Cree with English subtitles
2012, 30:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English Subtites
Qapirangajuq: Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change (Le savoir inuit et les changes climatiques)
2010, 54:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut, with English or French subtitles
2009, 07:23 minutes, colour, No dialogue
2009, 46:45 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English Subtitles
2007, 45:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut
Unikkaat Sivunittinnit (Messages from the Past) CD
2007, colour
Atanarjuat the Fast Runner (Soundtrack CD)
2007, colour
2007, colour
Exploring Inuit Culture Curriculum Gr. 4-6
2007, colour
2006, 08:47 minutes, colour, English and Inuktitut
Inuit Piqutingit (What Belongs to Inuit)
2006, 49:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English subtitles
The Journals of Knud Rasmussen
2006, 112:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut, w English subtitles, w/ French subtitles
2006, 46:49 minutes, colour, English
2005, 48:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English, French subtitles
2004, 48:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English, French subtitles
2003, 52:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English subtitles
Atanarjuat the Fast Runner (companion book)
2001, colour
2001, 161:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut, English subtitles
2001, 52:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English subtitles only
2001, 52:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English subtitles
Nanugiurutiga (My First Polar Bear)
2000, 48:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English subtitles
1999, 51:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English subtitles
1998, 52:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English subtitles
Episode 13: Quviasukvik (Happy Day)
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English or French subtitles
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English or French subtitles
Episode 11: Tuktuliaq (Caribou Hunt)
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English or French subtitles
Episode 10: Qaisut (Polar Bear Island)
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English or French subtitles
Episode 9: Aiviaq (Walrus Hunt)
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English or French subtitles
Episode 8: Avamuktulik (Fish Swimming Back and Forth)
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English or French subtitles
Episode 7: Qulangisi (Seal Pups)
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut w English or French subtitles
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English or French subtitles
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English or French subtitles
Episode 4: Tugaliaq (Ice Blocks)
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English or French subtitles
Episode 3: Qarmaq (Stone House)
1995, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English or French subtitles
1994, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English or French subtitles
Episode 1: Qimuksik (Dog Team) - Nunavut
1994, 28:50 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English or French subtitles
1993, 30:30 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English or French subtitles
Nunaqpa (Going Inland) (Marcher dans les terres)
1991, 58:15 minutes, colour, Inuktitut with English or French subtitles
Qaggiq (Gathering Place) (Lieu de Rassemblement)
1989, 58:00 minutes, colour, Inuktitut (with English or French subtitles)
Critical Writing
by et al. Brooklyn: COUSIN Collective, 2024.
by and . Waterloo: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2023.
by . St. John's: Memorial University Press, 2022.
by . Calgary: Esker Foundation, 2019.
by . ActiveHistory.ca, Mar 5, 2018. History Department at the University of Saskatchewan and Huron University College, 2018.
by . Envisioning Legality, 2017. Routledge, 2017.
by . The Globe and Mail, May 29, 2015.
by . The Globe and Mail, Oct 19, 2010.
by . EYE WEEKLY, Mar. 26, 2009, v. 18, no. 20.
by . Toronto: V tape, 2009.
by . Artforum, Apr. 1, 2007, v. 38, no. 8.
by . Toronto: Vtape, 2007.
by . The Globe and Mail, Mar. 18, 2006.
by . The Globe and Mail, Sept. 6, 2006.
by . The Globe and Mail, Sept. 7, 2006.
by . The Toronto Star, Oct. 20 Fall, 2004.
by . The Native Voice, Jan. 26, 2004, v. 3, no. 2.
by . American Anthropologist, Dec. 2003, v. 105, no. 4.
by . American Anthropologist, Dec. 2003, v. 105, no. 4.
by . American Anthropologist, Dec. 2003, v. 105, no. 4.
by . Now, Apr. 11, 2002, v. 21, no. 32.
by . The Toronto Star, Apr. 6, 2002.
by . The Globe and Mail, Apr. 12, 2002.
by . The Toronto Star, Apr. 12, 2002.
by . The New York Times Magazine, July 14, 2002.
by . The Globe and Mail, May 18, 2001.
by . The Toronto Star, Nov. 16, 2001.
by . The Globe and Mail, Sept. 13, 2000.
by . Nunatsiaq News, Aug. 18, 2000.
by . Program - Video Pool Inc., Winnipeg, Nov. Fall 2000.
by . Toronto: Absolute Choice Curatorial Collective, 1999.
by . Toronto: YYZ Books, 1996.
by . YYZ Books, McGill University, 1995.
by . Fuse, Spring 1993, v. 16, no. 2.
by . Revisions, 1992. Banff: Paperworks Press, 1992.
by . Land, Spirit, Power / First Nations at the National Gallery of Canada, Sept. 25, 1992. Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 1992.
by . Parallelogramme, 1991, v. 17, no. 1.
by and . Inuit Art Quarterly, Summer 1991.
by and . Tokyo: Canadian Embassy, Tokyo, 1991.