I am extremely excited and pleased to share a new video celebrating the wonderful youth and mentors of the IlikKuset-Illingannet/Culture-Connect Program, which ran in Rigolet, Makkovik, and Postville, Nunatsiavut, Labrador.
This progra
m united 5 youth and 5 mentors in each community to learn culturally-based skills, such as trapping, fur preparation, wild meat cooking, snowshoe making, carving, music, and art. Youth spent approximately 4-5 weeks with each mentor learning these skills, with approximately 2,500 youth-adult mentor hours in total throughout the program.
This video was made during a youth gathering in Rigolet in March/April 2014 to celebrate the end of the program. We were lucky enough to work with Jordan Konek of Konek Productions, editor extraordinaire, to make this video. Jordan flew in from Iqaluit, and after experiencing weather delay after weather delay, finally arrived in Rigolet and helped our group put this together in 48 hours!
Special thanks to the youth and mentors of this program, without whom this wouldn’t be possible. Your passion, dedication, wisdom, knowledge, and skills are inspiring! Thank you to the Inuit Community Governments of Rigolet, Makkovik, and Postville for supporting this program, and to Inez Shiwak from the ‘My Word’: Storytelling & Digital Media Lab in Rigolet, Michele Wood in the Nunatsiavut Department of Health & Social Development, and Joanna Petrasek MacDonald from McGill University for all your help and support!
Many thanks to Health Canada’s Climate Change and Health Adaptation in Northern First Nations and Inuit Communities program, the Nasivvik Centre for Inuit Health and Changing Environments, IK-ADAPT, IMHACC, and the Canada Research Chair program for funding.
Ashlee Cunsolo, PhD 
Thank you! The film is great – the opportunity amazing and to the participants – BRAVO! I hope many will get this opportunity! Lisa