Okpik

Distributed by Collective Eye Films, 1315 SE 20th Ave. #3, Portland OR 97214; 971-236-2056Produced by Caroline Cox, Tiffany Ayalik, and Kylik Kisoun TaylorDirected by Tiffany Ayalik and Kylik Kisoun Taylor2023, Streaming, 44 mins In an isolated location, north of the Arctic Circle in Canada’s Beaufort Delta Region, one man is attempting to follow in his Inuvialuit ancestors' footsteps. Kylik Kisoun Taylor returned to his cultural homeland at 16 and after reconnecting with his culture, he is now determined to see it thrive once again. In an environment seen far too often, indigenous individuals are facing a prolonged cultural shift. Land taken away, cheap and insufficient housing erected, and the idea of adapting or getting left behind. Kylik witnesses his community suffer in this way and has decided to get back to living off the land. He and his family moved to a bush camp; Teepee shelter, five dollars a day and no paying for utilities or property taxes: they make their own heat, catch their own food, and retrieve their own water. This was his solution, not only for housing crises and food insecurity, but a way to get back to his roots. To do this for his people, he is creating a self-sufficient, eco-friendly village. This community is built with the labor of indigenous and non-indigenous alike. As Kylik notes, it's not about indigenous and nonindigenous, it is about a need. His lofty goals and intentions of this village are to build a community for a continuous transfer of knowledge. The elders see their way of life slipping away, and this effort is to help ensure that knowledge is retained for the next generations. According to Kylik, the best way to learn about one’s culture is not in a classroom or through books, but by living it- experiencing it. This is why he has his own children involved in the making of the village. Instilling a work ethic and a different kind of education. Immersing themselves in the ways of their ancestors, learning to be self-sufficient, creating self-confidence, and learning the native language, in hopes of teaching others the same. Throughout the film, we are with Kylik and his people as they catch their food, forage the natural resources for building supplies, build a sod house, etc. A poignant quote from Kylik makes a statement, “We can’t ask the system that oppresses us, to heal us. We need to take action.” To Kylik and his community, this is their way of acting, showing what can be done, and what has always been done. There are no special lighting or formal interviews in this film- that is not what is needed. It is a raw experience, and a home footage-type videography was necessary for allowing the audience to see glimpses of the hard work and heart of this endeavor. There are some aerial shots of the location, and a traditional story told in fragments in the native language throughout the film. The native language is used occasionally; the majority is in English with English closed captions when the native language is spoken. It would have been helpful for the film to have spanned a longer period to see what kind of progress was made in the village, as well as get to know Kylik's background for better context, as this film only gives a glimpse of the beginnings. Despite this minor critique, I would recommend this film for viewing on various educational topics such as indigenous studies, sustainable living, or anthropology.

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