Iqaluit (Jan 22/07) - Northern filmmaker John Houston is getting ready to release his fourth film, which explores a long-suppressed tale from Inuit history.

The film Kiviuq tells the story of the legendary figure who director Houston said in Inuit oral tradition matches the scope and importance of Homer's Odysseus.

"He is an ancient shaman hero who is old as Inuit are old," Houston said from the office of his film company, Drumsong Communications, in Halifax.

The film, which premieres this week on APTN, stars Pond Inlet actor Lamech Kadloo as the storied hero. It tells Kiviuq's story, from his near drowning as a child, to his epic journeys and battles. Many of the younger generation are not familiar with Kiviuq's tale, Houston said, because it was suppressed.

"We tried hard, through our missionaries, to destroy shamanism, and then to deny it ever had power, to make Inuit easier to control. And we would have succeeded, if the old stories weren't so persistent, and the oral tradition so strong."

Houston said he hopes this story helps elders to share stories before it's too late.

"I'm interested in seeing these things reclaimed before they are lost forever," he said.

This week, Houston is in Norway to promote the film, joining a Nunavut trade mission as the head of Drumsong Communications, and as the president of the Ajjiit Media Association.

He said trips such as this one allow Drumsong to bring its film to a an appreciative world-wide audience.

To this end, the upcoming DVD release of the Inuktitut language film will be in subtitled in several other languages, including English, French, German and Danish.

"We're reaching out to the world," he said.

Traditionally, the tale of Kiviuq ends with him journeying south, out of Inuit territory.

"Elders contend that Kiviuq is still very much alive on this earth," Houston said.

He said a Baker Lake elder, Samson Quinangnaq, explains this theory in simple terms.

"He said, 'Just the fact that you and I are sitting talking to each other means he's got to be still alive.' If he died, there would be no air left to breathe.'"

Kiviuq premieres on APTN on Sunday, Jan. 28.