(3) NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN DOCUMENTARY FILMS ~ 2 DVD's

Nanook of the North
Widely considered the first, full length, documentary film of ALL-TIME!

This film is a rare and historical "snapshot" of Eskimo Indian life featuring Nanook, Chief of the "Itivimuits" and renowned hunter, his family, his Inuit tribe and their continuous battle for survival among the frozen tundra of northern Canada.

From 1910 through 1916, famous "writer" Robert Flaherty was commissioned by Sir William Mackenzie to film Eskimo Indian life along the Hudson Bay, north of Ontario, with the intent to sell off the footage to fund future expeditions on behalf of Mackenzie's railway company, Canadian Northern.  Unfortunately, this footage was destroyed by fire in 1918 but believing "that a good film depicting the Eskimo and his fight for existence in the dramatically barren North might be well worth while", Flaherty acquired new funding and went back to northern Canada in 1918 and spent the next 2 years (and 75,000 feet of film) creating this critically acclaimed cultural masterpeice! 

Click here to read the facts as told by Flaherty himself...

CONTENT ADVISORY: Some hunting scenes may be disturbing to some viewers.

Created: 1922
Producer: Robert Flaherty
Format:  NTSC DVD (Silent/Music Added)
Run Time: 53:49 Minutes
 

Eskimos of Western Alaska

A documentary film showing Native American life over the course of a long, cold Alaskan winter back in 1950. In the spirit of "Nanook of the North", this short film records the lives of an Eskimo (Inupik) family featuring "Archibuck", the best seal hunter in the village and shows the ingenious ways they trap fish, prepare food, teach their children and the deer and seal skin clothing they wear. It should be noted that the hunting scenes were considered far to graphic to show in public schools back in the 1950's and were abruptly "cut" off the end of this film.

CONTENT ADVISORY: None.

Created: 1950
Producer: EB Films, A Machetanz Production
Format:  NTSC DVD (Narrated)
Run Time: 08:28 Minutes