Since 2012, we have been working with elders and storytellers to ensure that the culture of the Inuit is preserved and passed on. In the next decade, Nunavut will lose its remaining elders—those who have experienced a traditional Northern life. Because much of Inuit knowledge and culture is transmitted orally, with few written accounts existing, it is a critical time for this rich and unique place. Animation is an excellent contemporary medium with which to transmit many of these tales. (TPI) is an Inuit-owned film production company located in Nunavut that strives to establish itself as an innovative leader of youth and children's programming. TPI is committed to bringing the stories of the North to the world. In addition to its three short animated films—Amaqqut Nunaat: The Country of Wolves (2011), The Orphan and the Polar Bear (2013), and The Amautalik (2014)—TPI has also begun development on two television series, targeted at Northern children. All three of TPI's films have been screened at festivals across the globe, and Amaqqut Nunaat: The Country of Wolves has won eight international awards, including Best Canadian Short Drama at imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, Best Animation at the American Indian Film Festival, and Best Short Film at the First Peoples' Festival.
