IGLOOLIK, Nunavut — Canada’s first Inuit-language TV channel officially launched on Monday, January 18, having secured carriage on Shaw’s satellite TV service.
The new channel, Uvagut TV, will broadcast 168 hours a week of Inuit-produced culture, arts, movies and information programming, says the press release issued last week by Igloolik-based Nunavut Independent Television Network (NITV) and IsumaTV. The channel was created by NITV and IsumaTV with programs from Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) and other Inuit independent producers.
The channel is available nationally to more than 610,000 Shaw Direct satellite customers (basic package) as well as Arctic Co-operatives Limited’s cable subscribers in Nunavut and Northwest Territories, who receive their TV signals via Shaw. As we previously reported last September, the 24-hour Inuktut-language TV channel needed Shaw to add the channel to Shaw Direct before Arctic Co-ops could also distribute it.
NITV says the channel will be added to other satellite and cable systems over the months ahead. Viewers can also stream Uvagut TV online at uvagut.tv (which is currently available at isuma.tv).
“For me, Uvagut TV is a dream come true — to see Inuit culture and to hear our language full time on TV,” said Lucy Tulugarjuk, NITV chair and executive director, and director of the Inuit-language children’s film, Tia and Piujuq.
“As our elders pass away, we are fighting against time to keep Inuit culture and language alive for our children and grandchildren. TV in Inuktut all day every day is a powerful way to keep a living language for future generations,” she added.
“This is an exciting time for Nunavummiut, especially those whose first language is Inuktut,” added Mary Nirlungayuk, corporate secretary and vice-president of corporate services at Arctic Co-operatives. “The arrival of Uvagut TV means Arctic People will have the opportunity to see programming in our own language, representing our own culture. A lot of work went into making this happen, and Arctic Co-ops is proud to be a part of this historical step towards preserving and growing the Inuit language.”
Uvugat TV broadcasts five hours every day of Inuktut children’s programs including IBC’s award-winning Takuginai series and programs by Inuvialuit Communications Society; shows by IsumaTV, Arnait Video, Artcirq, Kingulliit and Taqqut Productions; award-winning Inuktut movies such as Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner; classic series, documentaries and new programs such as Silakut Live From the Floe Edge and Tunnganarnik broadcasting live from Nunavut communities and the remote arctic wilderness.
The company confirmed to Cartt.ca now that it is available through Shaw, it wants to increase distribution to other Canadian BDUs, too.
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