Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 10, 2007

ARCTIC BAY - A group of students at Inuujaq school in Arctic Bay are being viewed regularly on the popular website YouTube.

Dean Hughes, left, and Edward Qaqqasiq are shown here in a still from the rap video "Don't Call me Eskimo." - photo courtesy of Chris McCarthy

It all started with an entry in the Skills Canada competition last year in Iqaluit, according to Chris McCarthy.

He taught at the school for four years and co-ordinated several projects.

"We didn't really fare so well so we decided to practice and continue making videos in Arctic Bay," he said.

About a dozen people got to work on the new videos, he said.

Edward Qaqqasiq, a student who helped out with the filming of the videos, said it took almost two weeks to finish them.

One of the videos that was created is a rap video called "Don't Call Me Eskimo," in which three of the students rap and sing.

"We decided to do that because it was something of interest to the students, really, trying to get them motivated," said McCarthy.

He said when he first relocated to Arctic Bay, he found himself surrounded by change.

"When I first moved there I was so naive about things like water trucks," he said. "So we wanted to make a video that kind of represented life in a Northern community."

In the video, the students rap and sing about subjects varying from the harsh weather conditions people experience in the North to the price of a pack of cigarettes.

Mention is also made about the controversy surrounding the sealing industry, with the following lyrics:

"It's our way of life to hunt for seals. Back off, Greenpeace, we just want some meals. Don't tell us what to do, Paul McCartney. When we go clubbing we're having a party."

"We brainstormed together," said Qaqqasiq when asked who came up with the lyrics.

Another video made by the same group is called "Don't Call Me Eskimo: The Show." It is a 22-minute long show that McCarthy said is done in a Trailer Park Boys style.

"It's not meant to be a serious representation of the North. It's kind of a bit of satire about life in the North, so it's not really meant to offend anyone," he said.

The group also created a short horror film.

Qaqqasiq said he learned a lot during the making of the videos, and that it was a lot of hard work.

McCarthy is now studying in St. John's, Nfld.

He said he believes the Arctic Bay students who were involved with the productions will continue to make films in his absence.

Such productions may help new teachers to the town, as well, he suggested.

"I know that a lot of the new teachers that were coming to Arctic Bay watched a lot of the videos, and that created a lot of enthusiasm on their part on the community they're going to," he said.