CORAL HARBOUR - Adina Leger, originally from Coral Harbour and now living in the United States, said explaining Inuit culture to the average American hasn't been easy.

Leger, who now owns a production company in San Diego, plans to put a $7,000 grant she was given from the Canada Council for the Arts to good use by producing a movie that will introduce modern Inuit culture to international screens.

Adina Leger, at her sister's house in Rankin Inlet, now lives in San Diego with her husband. She is visiting home while writing a script about an Inuk girl who returns home from the South to rediscover her Inuit culture. - Christine Grimard/NNSL photo

She is nearly finished the script for this film, which is tentatively called "This is What I Look Like."

"All the movies I've seen on Inuit life are based on history," said Leger. "I felt it was important to show what life was like now."

Leger's story will feature an Inuk girl who left her home and her culture behind for the amenities of the South.

As she returns home, her character is reintroduced to her culture, and learns to appreciate the things she took advantage of while growing up.

The story isn't far from Leger's own life.

Six years ago she moved to Yellowknife to attend high school and then to Florida to study theology.

Her parents were preachers and she planned to follow their path, but at university she met her husband Kelley Leger, a Texan who attended the New York Film Academy and she caught his passion for film.

The two own a production company in San Diego, Righteous Productions, and produce commercials, music videos, and infomercials.

Leger applied in 2004 for a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to write her own script.

Her proposal didn't pass that year, but she persevered and received the grant in 2005.

Leger was one of 16 recipients of the grant in 2005 out of 55 applicants, said Donna Balkan, a spokesperson for the Canada Council.

"It's a competition," said Balkan. "Artists apply for the grant and are evaluated by a jury."

Balkan said Leger was the only recipient from Nunavut that year. However, filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk has also previously received the grant to fund several of his projects.

The program is directed towards Aboriginal artists from anywhere in Canada, however the programs do not have to be on Aboriginal themes, said Balkan.

As Leger works on the script, which she expects should be finished by September; she's finding more challenges.

For instance, she has yet to choose names for her characters.

She doesn't want to make up names to keep the movie authentic, but as Inuit names are all inherited it's tricky choosing ones she can use.

Leger plans on collaborating with other Northern artists for the project.

She has already spoken with NWT musician Leela Gilday who has agreed to make music for the film.

Balkan said that Leger will be eligible to receive more funding from the Canada Council for the production of the film.