Fierce Prayers

With historical records, Zacharias talks to elders about the early arrivals of qallunaat (non-Inuit) explorers, traders and whalers in the north.

This episode traces the arrival of missionary Edmund Peck in the North. Zacharias travels to Blacklead Island, the site of the first Anglican church in Nunavut, and looks at early examples of translated Inuktitut bibles used for Christian conversion.

Over 100 years ago, some Inuit communities created their own Christian conversion rituals called siqqitirniq. Elders and historians share the history of Umik, who performed ritual conversions in Igloolik. Zacharias talks to community members about moving off of the land and into Canadian settlement communities.

Talking to elders, Zacharias explores the impacts of colonialism and religion, including the history of the “dog slaughter” by the RCMP in the 1950s and 1960s.

The damage and impact from government and church-run residential schools continues to be felt in Inuit communities today. This episode examines the history and talks to survivors.

Zacharias talks to Elders about the divide between Catholics and Anglicans in the 20th century, with Igloolik as a unique site where both churches fought for followers.

In this episode, Zacharias participates in the “Return of the Sun” tradition, and asks community members about spirituality, balancing traditional beliefs in the modern world, and their hope for the future.