Inuit, fighting for a better life

Who are the Inuit people of today? What does it mean to live in the vast expanse of the Arctic, in the age of urbanization and technology?

At the crossroads between past and present, the Inuit people have to face the many changes brought about by modernity. Deeply influenced by North American culture, the younger generation have a hard time perpetuating their ancestors’ rituals and traditional skills.

The film takes us to Nunavut, a Canadian territory where this loss of identity has taken a dramatic turn: criminality, drug trafficking, alcoholism and suicide are the heavy price for this difficult cultural transition. We will follow Matthew and Elena, two inmates in a local correctional center, who agreed to participate in the "On the Land" program. This project, dedicated to helping Inuit people get back to their roots, teaches them about their own people, and helps them develop ancestral skills, including hunting wild animals, making clothing with their fur, and building igloos to resist the harsh weather.

Starting with their initiation, and progressing to stunning scenes in the Arctic ice fields, the film provides an in-depth portrayal of a forgotten population and the challenges it is trying to overcome.