Why White People Are Funny

This morning at the conference I'm attending, Zebedee Nungak (writer and former politician from Nunavut) presented a film called Qallunatt/Why White People are Funny. Qallunatt is the Inuktitut word for white person. Here's how the National Film Board describes this movie:

Qallunaat/Why White People are Funny is an irreverent look at Western Civilization through Inuit eyes. Inspired by the satirical essays of Zebedee Nungak, the film turns the tables on generations of anthropologists, teachers, adventurers and administrators who went North to pursue their Arctic Dreams. Now it’s their turn to be poked, prodded, examined and explained. A new generation of Inuit is ready to take on the Qalllunaat at their own game. Grounded in their own traditions but educated in the South, they have a unique perspective on the culture that has come to dominate the planet. And they are not afraid to speak their minds. Qallunaat/Why White People are Funny is an uproarious trip through the cultural looking glass.

Yes, the film is veiled in a great deal of humour. And there was added enjoyment for me because I recognized some of the people in the film from my years in Frobisher Bay (now Iqaluit). But it packs a powerful message and there were times when I felt sick to my stomach being reminded of the damage that 'my people' have caused 'their people'. I think this brilliant work is a must see for senior high school students and for anyone who lives in the North. In fact, it's a must see, period.