Arctic Defenders

Arctic Defenders tells a remarkable story that began in 1968 with a radical Inuit movement in Canada that set out to change the political landscape forever. That movement led to, in 1999, the creation of a new territory equal to one fifth of Canada`s landmass (2,093,190 sq. km), a territory larger than England, France, Germany and Spain combined. Created under an historic comprehensive land claim agreement with the federal government, 33,000 Inuit achieved special rights and benefits with the creation of Nunavut, which translates into Our Land. After thirty years of lobbying by visionary Inuit, Canada had finally realized that without the Inuit claim to the land, its own sovereignty of the north would be questioned by an international community determined to gain access to the oil and mineral riches of the northern hemisphere. The story also reveals the dark side of Canada’s attempt at sovereignty in the north and finds hope and inspiration from determined Inuit who changed the rules of the game.

Arctic Defenders won the best Atlantic feature award at the 2013 Atlantic Film Festival. .