information and communication technologies and the mobilization of inuit cultural heritage
DESCRIPTION
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council invites you to look at vital questions impacting Canadians over the next 5, 10 and 20 years: Imagining Canada's Future. The question: "What knowledge do we need to thrive in an interconnected landscape and how can emerging technology help leverage that goal and its benefits?" The answer: We need Information and Communication Technologies solutions for Canada's arctic to mobilize its cultural resources for community development. York University's Knowledge Mobilization Unit Director, Michael Johnny, will introduce members of the Mobilizing Inuit Cultural Heritage research team: led by Dr. Anna Hudson; with co-investigator, Prof. Angela Norwood; doctoral candidate, Erin Yunes; and Industry Partner, IsumaTV, represented by Gabriela Gámez and John Hodgins. Originally aired: Thursday March 20th 6-8pm @ MaRS 101 College Street, Toronto Watch the presentation at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HkEqmoNBwQ Scroll to 20:13 to begin discussionTRANSCRIPT
Overview
Connectivity Capacity of NunavutPresented by Erin Yunes
Igloolik Isuma Productions
Presented by Gabriela Gamez
Mobilizing Inuit Cultural Heritage: a multi-media / multi-platform re-engagement
of voice in visual art and performance
Presented by Anna Hudson and Angela Norwood
Credit: Ilisaqsivik/ilisaqsivik.ca
Credit: Ilisaqsivik/ilisaqsivik.ca
Connectivity Capacity of Nunavut
Credit: Angela Norwood
Population of Inuit in Canada
Inuit in Canada: 59,445
Nunavut Population: 35,591
Annual growth rate: 2.2%
Currently Inuit is one of the fastest growing populations in
Canada.
10 Largest Nunavut Communities
Source: Calculations based on July 2013 Population Estimates published by the Government of Nunavut
Total Populations with % of Age Groups between 5-64
Broadband Availability by Speed and Province/TerritoryPercentage of Households, 2011
Source: CRTC Data Collection/Backbone Magazine
Cost of Internet: Qiniq
Average Cost basic internet Nunavut: $80.00
Average Cost basic internet in southern Canada: $39.00
Milestones in Nunavut Connectivity
Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation
Credit: NBDC/www.nunavut-broadband.ca
Connectivity Accomplishments
Improved training
Increased employment opportunities
$9.9 million in direct and spin-off wages and salaries
Opened doors for corporate competition
Government Spending to Improve Connectivity
Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP)
Connectivity: Moving Forward
Community Voice:
Just today I was communicating with my older children about how in February our internet bill was $700 and how I cannot afford to pay that monthly. We have the 'best' package from NorthWesTel that provides 30 gigs but when we go over then it costs a lot of money.
“
”
Current Technology Limitations: Retirement
New Satellite System Via-Sat 1 (2012)
Proposed Satellite System: Via Sat II (2016)
Planned launch in 2016
Double the bandwidth economics of ViaSat-1
Provide seven times the coverage area
Current Global Fiber Optic Cabling, March 2014
Proposed: Arctic Fibre Route
Fiber Optic Concerns
Credit: Nunavut Fibre Optic Feasibility Study – March 2012
Global Fiber Optic Outage Map
44%
21%
15%
20%
Causes of Fiber Breaks Worldwide
FishingUnknownAnchorErrosion/Drilling
The Bottom Line: Connecting with the World
Artists Bill Nasogaluak (Tuktoyaktuk) and Kuzy Curley (Cape Dorset) were commissioned to design, build, and install an Inukshuk
in New Delhi as a sign of harmony between Canada and India.
Conclusion
The Now
• Current connectivity is creating pockets of exclusion for Inuit
• Highlights social inequalities
• Actions are structured by communication limitations
Call to Action
• Provide Inuit a space to challenge the dominant cultural framework
• Build a community of interaction
• Fostering broader participation with greater sovereignty
Igloolik Isuma Productions 1990
First Inuit owned independent production company, producing Inuktitut-language video documenting Inuit
culture and recreating past history from an Inuit point of view.
Atanarjuat The Fast Runner2001
Atanarjuat The Fast Runner, the first Inuktitut-language feature-length film wins Caméra d’Or at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and 2002 Genie Award
for Canada’s Best Picture. Isuma’s second feature, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen, is the Opening Night selection of the 2006 Toronto
International Film Festival.
Indigenous Film Network (IFN)2006
An initiative to expand feature film distribution by bringing aboriginal films through high-definition video projections to over 200 remote Inuit, First Nations, and other
indigenous communities across Canada and internationally.
IsumaTV2007
After 20 years and 35 films, Isuma Distribution International launches IsumaTV, the first media website devoted to films and videos by and for
Inuit and indigenous people worldwide.
Indigenous media networks on IsumaTV
ImagineNATIVE Canada
WapikoniQuebec &
abroad
CLACPILatin America
By 2012, IsumaTV carries over 5000 films and videos in 56 languages, its
network includes channels from the National Film Board, ImagineNATIVE, CLACPI, Wapikoni, NCSNWT, NITV, IBC, Maori TV, KNR.
Customized websites for indigenous media makers
By having their website integrated on IsumaTV, indigenous media makers are able to make their channel look the way they want, are
linked to other indigenous media makers and audiences, and distributed to remote communities.
Challenges
High satellite bandwidth rates for Northern Inuit and Aboriginal Canadians:
• Slow download speeds• Expensive monthly bandwidth caps
$80-$90 / monthNunavut
1 Mb/s download
$80-$90 / monthToronto, Vancouver,
Toronto
100 Mb/s download
Download Speed Comparisonin 2014
• New government subsidies promise to increase northern internet to only 5Mb/s download by 2020, when faster southern speeds will exceed 300 Mb/s download for the same price.
•As Canada moves into the digital age at full speed in coming decades, state-of-the-art services in health care, education, mental health, economic development, job training, cultural preservation and minority language rights all will depend on very high speed internet for the streaming and download of large media files.
Media Players2009
The ‘Media Player’ technology bypasses the bandwidth speed and cap problems faced by remote communities. Upload and download of media files are faster as they are only transferred to and from the world wide web once,
after which they are stored on the media player. This means streaming media is not only faster but takes up little of the user's bandwidth.
IsumaTV in Schools2010
Through media players and mobile technologies, IsumaTV allows students and teachers to learn from 5000 Inuit and Aboriginal films and
videos in 56 languages from around the world.
IsumaTV in the Community2011
IsumaTV broadcasts online programming 24/7 to home TVs through local cable channels; streams community radio stations live online; and allows
high-speed download and upload of local videos.
Artisans of Today’s Communities (ARTCO)2011
Engaging Inuit and Cree children and youth across cultural divisions by using digital media and mobile devices to share experiences, resolve common problems and find new ways to communicate across old barriers towards a better future.
Installing a media player in a community to broadcast 24/7 Inuit films and local media productions is a long process of negotiations, obtaining permits and organizing resources.
Briefly, the process consists of:
- Negotiating with the local Coop and the Arctic Co-operatives Limited (ACL).
- Identifying a physical space and local human resources.
- Identifying the funding to pay for salaries and internet connection.
- Flying-in the media player and installing.
Challenges in Nunavut
Digital Indigenous Democracy2013
internet + television + radio + live broadcast used to ‘Decide Together’
DID adapts modern new media to the urgent needs of Nunavut communities facing an upsurge in global warming and transnational mining development.
In 2013 IsumaTV opened TV channels in Igloolik, Pangnirtung, Arviat, Cambridge Bay and Taloyoak, with a channel planned soon for Iqaluit. This service is offered to the remaining 20 Nunavut communities by the end of 2015.
Using state-of-the-art local serversIsumaTV provides 24/7 viewing of 1000 Inuit films
Multimedia Human Rights Impact Assessment2013
This project influenced the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) recommendations to the Baffinland company. They indicated that there
should be a multimedia website to inform and monitor all activities during the entire process.
Tools that allow stakeholders of a proposed business operation and investment to understand the potential positive and negative impacts in
terms of human rights.
IsumaTV 2014
• Creates models to bridge the digital divide for Indigenous communities.
• Gives Inuit a say in developer’s arctic ambitions.
• IsumaTV participates formally (i.e. Public Hearings of NIRB and CRTC inquiries).
• We share our model with other indigenous communities worldwide.
Sharing the IsumaTV model worldwide
INFORM
Videos uploaded to IsumaTV’s local servers by science researchers, government agencies, mining companies or Inuit organizations inform Inuit at high-speed for free when the same videos on Youtube are too slow and costly to download in Nunavut’s bandwidth-capped communities.
Mobilizing Inuit Cultural Heritage (MICH)
Inuit leadership working together with southern universities and government funding agencies can deliver 24/7 Inuktitut TV, high-speed internet download and online radio to every Nunavut community by the end of 2015.
Creating and mobilizing content
24/7 Inuktitut Media in schools, community television, radio, home computers and personal devices, strengthens Inuit
Qaujimajatuqangit, Inuit language, cultural education, public health, economic development, job training, and opportunities
for Inuit youth to join the global digital age.
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Partnership Grant
“The only way to be on par [with Qallunaat] is to tell stories in your own language.” Dr. Zacharias Kunuk, O.C., Filmmaker
“We need to begin using the internet as a tool, not a toy”Susan Enuaraq, Nunavut Arctic College, Inuit Studies Program
Mobilizing Inuit Cultural Heritage: a multi-media / multi-platform re-engagement of voice in
visual art and performance
Fig. 1. Venn diagram representing Information and Communication Technologies as the engine for mobilizing Inuit cultural heritage
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit as a basis for business
Guiding Principles of Inuit QaujimajatuqangitGovernment of Nunavut’s version
1. Respecting others, relationships and caring for people
2. Fostering good spirit by being open, welcoming and inclusive
3. Serving and providing for family and/or community
4. Decision making through discussion and consensus
5. Development of skills through practice, effort and action
6. Working together for a common cause
7. Being innovative and resourceful in seeking solutions
8. Respect and care for the land, animals and the environment
Research Goal and Objectives:
ACCESS to the advanced information and communication technologies
CONNECTION of Inuit voice to objects of Inuit cultural heritage
CREATION of Inuit cultural capacity
ACCESS:
CONNECTION:
Who are you as a modern Inuk? What can we together do to make change?
“Art is part of every thing” Peesee Pitsiulak-Stephens
CREATION:
Katujjiqatigiingniq: the relationship of partners and participants using Information and Communication Technologies
AUDIENCES:
Web 2.0 social media, live-streaming, and internet TV are powerful mechanisms for linking Inuit orality and materiality and, therefore, of imaging an Inuit worldview aesthetic first and foremost for Inuit.
Cross-sector co-creation of knowledge and understanding
Inuit art produced for a southern market is “one of the ‘interventions’ that has fostered and safeguarded Inuit culture in the face of numerous affronts to our sovereignty”
Inuit radio, film and video
Language preservation is an increasingly pressing concern
Small business and connectivity
The role of connectivity in community development
Small business and connectivity
“The students will realize they are not only able to play, but also participate in the creation of everything that surrounds them. . . It will show a career path possibility that may seem otherwise unattainable.”
~ Ryan Oliver, founder of Pinnguaq
Department of Education
Behance.com as a model for artist collaboration and distribution
Economics
Cultural health is the core element of I.Q