The film has been shown at festivals around the world, and it recently made its Canadian premiere at the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM). It's a found footage feature that Gagnon pieced together using clips that people from the North posted on YouTube. It includes footage of daily life, but also disturbing scenes of drunkenness, violence, vomiting and sex.
The soundtrack features music from indigenous musicians, including Tagaq. In response, she sent out a series of angry tweets:
.@RIDM chose to show a painful and racist film that uses my music without consent. I did not give permission to the filmmaker.
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 25, 2015
.@RIDM he also used @iskell music without permission. Using our music to stigmatize and discredit our culture. I'm disgusted.
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 25, 2015
.@Colette_Loumede is it true that you defended the film that used my music at @RIDM ?
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 25, 2015
THIS is why I'm so upset with the irresponsible curating by @RIDM showing that racist film. Stereotypes=violence! https://t.co/k14pv5UBVh
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 25, 2015
.@GlobeArts @exclaimdotca @exclaimeditor I'm deeply offended by the unauthorized use of my music in a very racist film approved by @RIDM
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 25, 2015
Given the state of #MMIW in our country, WHY would such a one sided and disparaging account of Inuit life be approved by @RIDM? Low.
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 25, 2015
Stereotypical content and infringement of copyright does not mean "art", it merely exacerbates debilitating opinions and promotes violence.
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 25, 2015
.@RIDM my music can be heard in Mathew Barney's Drawing Restraint 9. THAT is art. THAT is inspired filmmaking. I'm so unimpressed with you.
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 25, 2015
.@Colette_Loumede apparently called the film "beautiful" and has blocked me on Twitter rather than speak with me.
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 25, 2015
.@RIDM @Colette_Loumede I want a public apology.
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 25, 2015
Speaking with CBC, Tagaq confirmed that she intends to sue Gagnon if her music is not removed from the film, pointing out that he has never been to the North and has no right to portray the region or its peoples. "Violent, wandering drunks that neglect their children and don't care for the lives of animals: that's the image I took away from the film," she said. "I think it's kind of a cheap move to totally play up a negative stereotype of a marginalized people for your own artistic gain."
Gagnon, on the other hand, said that of the North is not intended to portray the North in a negative way. Rather, it's about what Inuit people choose to share online. He said, "They are defiant. They are not following the path that some people would like them to follow, and I feel like I had the right to represent that as well. Not only the politically correct idea or image of the Inuit, but the jackasses and the drunks and the whatever."
Tagaq has threatened to sue Gagnon if he doesn't take her voice out of the film. Meanwhile, she praised Quebec film centre DAÏMÔN for apparently cancelling a screening of the documentary that was scheduled on December 3. As of press time, however the screening is still listed on DAÏMÔN's website, so it's not clear whether it will be going ahead.
Watch a trailer for the film below.
UPDATE (11/26, 4:40 p.m.): According to a series of tweets from Tagaq, Gagnon has now agreed to remove her music from the film.
I'm thrilled to report that my music is being removed from that lowbrow film and will never appear in it again.
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 26, 2015
The "artist" of the film issues a statement that he is being attacked for being a young, white male. Welcome to the tundra.
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) November 26, 2015