Boys of Nunavut

In the Inuit Nunangat region of Northern Canada, suicide rates range from 5-25 times the national average. The highest risk group is Inuit males aged 15-29, with rates almost 40 times the national average.
One of these initiatives is the ‘Young Hunters’ Program in Arviat, Nunavut. It was created in 2012 by community leaders, elders and a network of individuals with expertise in indigenous health and mental wellness - including the project lead Michael Jong.
The program takes at-risk youth out on the land with an experienced hunter who teaches traditional Inuit skills and knowledge to live off the land. The participants learn resilience and self-dependence and through this experience strengthen the ties to their cultural heritage and community.

[@stevenschilizzi4104]

This is a thought-provoking story, and applies equally well here in Australia, and probably in many other places around the world where traditional ways of life have been uprooted but with nothing of value to replace them. This document should be made more widely known. And for those who haven’t read it, An Arctic Man (by Ernie Lyall) provides excellent descriptions of how Inuit life was before the 1960s. Thanks to all those who produced this remarkable video document.

[@wesleyy1691]

Thank you for sharing, I am hoping to make a trip there soon!

[@jabedhossain5518]

Informative documentary.

[@helgaogmundardottir1193]

Although suicides are not as common here in Iceland as in Nunavut they are far too common here, not least among young males, much more common than in for instance further south, on mainland Europe, just to name an area we're supposed to be culturally related to. Suicide in the north, in the Arctic, is something that has to be understood in context with history, geography and culture in each place and region. Thanks for this very informative documentary!

[@stephenbrand5661]

Here in the United States, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska tend to have the highest suicide rates. Humans are fundamentally a tropical species, so I guess it shouldn't be surprising that high latitudes can be rough on us psychologically.

[@graveltech]

Thank you for sharing ❣️👏

[@barrynangmalik2293]

Awesome clip

[@TheNelsonious]

How do we donate directly to this program?

[@TheHockeyDude27]

Best to contact the coordinators

[@meaganbeavers9341]

Exactly what I would like to do - start sponsoring a youth to attend.

[@YahyaAhmadkhan]

Amazing!

[@WelcomeToTruthSeeker]

It's bery Amazing life,winter isn’t fun,but some for said.

[@justaprogrammer3764]

can outsiders apply for the program?

[@Neptune44u6k6]

❤️🇨🇦🙏

[@davidcarrizo1873]

Me gustaria ayudar a esas bellas gentes.

[@sktirkid]

I'm glad not a single vegetarian stumble upon this vid.

[@kineticblues2766]

yea I'm sure the kids yearn to be nomadic... hehehe. they want to run around on summer nights and get caught up in tech and girls and drugs and etc etc etc.....

[@matthewwilson6333]

maybe they do, its about opportunity

[@jeremiahlafferty5016]

Thats why theres so many suicides, we're stuck in two different worlds-one side of us wants to indulge in drugs, alcohol and sex as you put it, and another side wants to feel a genuine connection with our ancestors. Suicide rates are so high because, for the most part... the youth are disconnected from our culture. It's proven that depression may result from a disconnect from your own culture, your own people... and when you're isolated in the North and (in a sense) isolated from your culture... it really gets to you mentally.

[@jeremiahlafferty5016]

Its also a stereotype that the kids don't want anything to do with culture, yes, we may use today's technology and speak English and consume Western media, but there are many on-the-land cultural programs in schools in the North and many youth may find solace in it. At this point and time, my generation is currently living in two entirely different worlds.