Film Lens
The Experimental Eskimos focuses on a Canadian government initiative from the early 1960s that removed three Inuit boys—Peter Ittinuar, Zebedee Nungak, and Eric Tagoona—from their families in the Arctic. They were relocated to Ottawa to live with white families and attend white schools, a decision that had significant repercussions for their cultural identity. The film presents their experiences and the long-term effects of this social engineering experiment on their lives.
As the boys grow up, they become political activists and leaders, advocating for Inuit rights and challenging the government policies that affected their lives. Their activism plays a crucial role in the establishment of aboriginal rights in Canada and the creation of Nunavut, the largest self-governed aboriginal territory in the world. The film captures their personal struggles and achievements, emphasizing the impact of assimilation on their identities and the wider effects for Indigenous communities in Canada.
Why Watch
- •Meet Peter Ittinuar and his activism for Inuit rights.
- •Find out how relocation affected three Inuit boys.
- •See the impact of the Nunavut creation on Indigenous rights.
Did You Know
•In the early 1960s, three Inuit boys were relocated from the Arctic to Ottawa.
•Peter Ittinuar, Zebedee Nungak, and Eric Tagoona became political activists.
•Their efforts contributed to the creation of Nunavut in Canada.
•Nunavut is the world's largest self-governed aboriginal territory.
Perfect For
Indigenous rightsCanadian historySocial experiments