IQALUIT
Joanasie Akumalik, part of the Atausiuqatigiingniq Inuusirmi United for Life Summit organizing team, introduced an evening showing of the film Tony: Back from the Brink, directed by Mike Jaypoody and released in 2014.

Tony Kalluk, during production of Tony: Back from the Brink, released in 2014. The film was shown at the Astro Theatre during the Atausiuqatigiingniq Inuusirmi United for Life Summit held in Iqaluit last week. - photo courtesy Piksuk Media Inc.

Akumalik noted Tony Kalluk of Clyde River, whose story is told in the 45-minute documentary, could not join the audience because he was out hunting with youth.

Kalluk, said Akumalik, is a cultural instructor, heavily involved with Clyde River's food bank, works with youth, is a counsellor at the Ilisaqsivik Society, and is working on starting a men's group.

No wonder then that he couldn't cut out from his many responsibilities to fly over to Iqaluit.

"He's a mentor," says Akumalik. "He's sober. He's leading youth in Clyde River."

The film traces what it took for Kalluk to become a mentor, and it feels like a living hell.

The diminutive and seemingly humble man became a criminal at a young age, filled with anger. He spent 20 years in and out of jail. Kalluk was a scary guy, said David Harder, who helped make the documentary and appears in it.

Piksuk Media Inc. describes Kalluk's life this way: "A victim of childhood violence and neglect, Tony Kalluk spent half of his first 40 years in jail or on probation. He was angry, violent; he attempted 'suicide by police' but was only shot in the leg.

"Later something changed; he returned home to Clyde River, became a counsellor to others in distress, and started a family. The film follows Tony as he tries to stay on track, while battling his demons from a past that will not leave him alone."

Kalluk opens up to the filmmakers.

"My anger began a long time ago, when my father got killed," Kalluk says in the film. He would be sent away from the community for the first time at 11 years old.

He started with break and enters then graduated to violent behaviour.

"Things went from bad to worse until I couldn't take it anymore," he says.

This is when he decided to end his life, by pushing a young RCMP officer to shoot him. But the officer, reverting to his training, shot him in the leg.

The film is honest, naked. At the beginning, torso bare, Kalluk shows his many tattoos, describing them. The scene is raw. He says, for a while, he replaced God with the devil. While he speaks, pages and pages of criminal history are shown.

Harder may very well be the trigger that caused change. He believed in Kalluk, and repeatedly told him.

"Tony, when I first met him, was a young offender. He was 17 years old. We heard about this extremely violent guy," says Harder in the film.

The two forged a bond, and Harder travelled to Clyde River to participate in the documentary.

The two are seen talking and walking. They have conversations about dealing with the past and dealing with anger. It's possible making the film triggered Kalluk, because we see him quit his job in anger. But, ultimately, he deals with the situation and returns.

In the documentary, Kalluk is frank about his continued struggles. He's wired for anger. But as his story depicts, helping others is itself a healing act, as is raising his young children with his wife.

As fate would have it, the young RCMP officer whose own life intertwined with Kalluk's on that day in Clyde River two decades ago returned to Nunavut in late 2014. He is Chief Supt. Mike Jeffrey, head of V Division

in Nunavut.

He was available to the audience the evening of May 3. He said, aside from speaking in the film, he has never watched the film nor has he ever talked about the events of that day publicly.

"It is a great story of redemption," Jeffrey said. "Back when I knew him, I would never have thought that this person could turn his life around."

Jeffrey said Kalluk's turnaround "always made me happy."

Akumalik, whose wife is from Clyde River and who lived there for several years, told the audience there has been an evolution in the community.

"It's healthier," he said. "There are a lot of activities, activities to anchor people."

The Ilisaqsivik Society, where Kalluk works, is frequently raised as an example of a successful healing centre, to be emulated in other communities.

As Kalluk says, "We all need help in one way or another."

Speaking of a young man he is involved with in counselling sessions, Kalluk says, "I believe in him. Maybe that's all he needs, someone to believe in him."

As Harder believed in Kalluk, which led to Kalluk believing in himself.

Jakob Gearheard, Ilisaqsivik's executive director, says about Kalluk, "He's saved lives."

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