Lumaaq: An Eskimo Legend

Lumaaq tells the story of a legend widely believed by the Povungnituk Inuit. The artist's drawings are transferred to paper, cut out, and animated under the camera. The result is Inuit prints in action. Dialogue, music and artwork make this film a total cultural transplant.
Directed by Co Hoedeman - 1975 | 8 min
Watch more free films on NFB.ca → bit.ly/YThpNFB
Subscribe to our newsletter → bit.ly/NFBnewsl...
Follow us on Facebook → bit.ly/ytfbNFB
Follow us on Instagram → bit.ly/2FdmRol
Follow us on Twitter → bit.ly/yttwNFB
Download our free iOS Apps → apple.co/2dbva4h
Download our free Android Apps → bit.ly/2dbvHmO

[@floydphan2]

Without speaking the language, it was a fun challenge having only the animations and the speaker’s tone to understand the story!
Only thing I’d like to know is what the boy said to his mother to get her to tie the rope around her waist.

[@ryanbright6432]

Nothing. It’s a common practice to tie yourself with rope to prey items like the whale in the story to stop them getting away. But experienced hunters know which prey is too strong & must be tied elsewhere. The mother was not a hunter, and so all he had to do was hand her the rope and the harpoon. Her & the whale did the rest.

[@ryanbright6432]

Also in the tale it is a fish not a bird that swims him too the bottom of the lake & lifts him back up. He meets the fish whilst sitting by the water with his sister.

[@manasieqaunaq8562]

It's been decades since I've seen this, first time I watched, in my mind it was not this animated. I grew up with story tellers and I have to say it played differently, I went throught several emotions in those short minutes vividly and I gotta say I felt relieved when that wicked mother was gone!

[@SpreadieGirthy]

Haven't watched this since I was very young in school. Didnt know my grandmother did the music. There are some details that aren't showed in this animation that the mother gave the son something to drink and I can say that it's something you wouldn't want to drink or offer someone to drink, yeah, she was a bad mother.

[@Waxdog2112]

We need more of this in the schools not gay pride

[@symphony-of-the-mint2008]

@@Waxdog2112 i think there should be an even balance of everything

[@zachsurp]

LOVE THE BOINGY SOUNDTRACK !!

[@veneraberens4653]

GREAT VIDEO I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE TY EVERYONE STAY SAFE HEALTHY AND BLESSED

[@tracehall120]

THANK YOU VENERA TELL VANESSA UNCLE BILLY'S ASHTMA IS DOING BETTER LATELY

[@SpitfireEssa]

@@tracehall120 HELP WHAT😭

[@joetoh6675]

I can get the gist without subtitles, but they would be nice to have. In English, French, and Inuktitut, both in syllabics and alphabetized.

[@whiteranger0505]

I love the instrumentals. Is the jaw harp an indigenous instrument?

[@billyoleary8291]

Wonderful! Thank you.

[@elipkau]

Wowwww beautiful!!

[@RD-ii2ju]

If you are a native english speaker, then you might now observe how it feels to get nothing but videos in a foreign language without subtitles in yours. The film industry is dominated by anglosphere cosmovision.

[@vegandolls]

You can’t be bothered to use subtitles?

[@veneraberens4653]

NOT SURE IF THIS IS A REAL INUIT DIALECT BUT INTERESTING AS AN AUTISTIC PERSON WHO IS VISUALLY ORIENTED TO SEE A VIDEO DESCRIBED IN PICTURES I ENJOYED THIS VIDEO THE VERY MOST

[@Torquemada71.]

Cool language, it's nice on the ears.

[@chrisbrown387]

I'm lucky my woman is Inuk. She translated to me the story. Wonderful film.

[@christophertalbot9488]

What happens?

[@mrtimo3822]

Gay

[@SpitfireEssa]

@@mrtimo3822 bruh it’s Chris not Christina are you slow💀🙏?

[@zachsurp]

i like u NFB

[@MatthewAbbottHighskies]

bruh - the subtitles don't work. Wish i could understand the story

[@leniszameit]

the subtitles dont work for english😪

[@Hollylivengood]

Seems to be a lot of karma involved in Inuit stories.

[@catherinemoore9534]

So strange....as to be Incompréhensible.