The Inconvenient Indian 

The Inconvenient Indian dives deep into the brilliant mind of Thomas King, Indigenous intellectual, master storyteller, and author of the bestselling book The Inconvenient Indian, to shatter the misconception that history is anything more than stories we tell about the past. With winks to his cab driver Coyote along the way, King takes us on a critical journey through the colonial narratives of North America. He eloquently exposes the falsehoods of white supremacy and deftly punctures myths of Indigenous erasure to lay bare what has been extracted from the land, culture, and peoples of Turtle Island. In this time of momentous change and essential re- examination, Inconvenient Indian is a powerful visual poem anchored in the land and amplified by the voices of those who continue the tradition of Indigenous resistance. Artist activists, land protectors, hunters, and those leading cultural revitalization powerfully subvert the “inconvenience” of their existence, creating an essential new narrative and a possible path forward for us all.

English, Inuktitut, Cree and Anishinaabemowin with English subtitles | 2020 | 90 minutes.

Join us to discuss books from the science fiction and fantasy genres each month.  All are welcome! 

Every 3rd Thursday of the month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

Here's what we're reading spring/summer 2024:

• April 18: Doing time by Jodi Taylor
• May 16: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
• June 20: Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Please note: Registrants are responsible for securing a copy of the book to read or listen to.

Do you enjoy reading mysteries? Share the enjoyment of good mysteries in a relaxed atmosphere. Join us for discussion usually every third Friday of the month. 

Did you know that the National Capital Region is home to the highest population of Inuit people in southern Canada? In honour of National Indigenous History Month, it's fitting that we bring you the Labrador Documentary Project, a series of short films celebrating Inuit culture and teaching history from the beautiful northeast coast of Canada.

The directors of these films - Heather Campbell, Holly Andersen, Jennie Williams, and Ossie Michelin - are also past participants and recent leaders of the Labrador Creative Arts Festival, the longest-running children's art festival in Canada.

57 minutes. In English and Inuktitut with English and French subtitles. Courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada.

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Part oral history and part visual poem, Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher is the story of Evelyn Campbell, a trailblazer for an Inuit-led educational system in the small community of Rigolet, Labrador.

In Hebron Relocation, Holly Andersen explores what makes a place a home as she learns more about her community’s connection to generations of displaced northern Labrador Inuit.

Nalujuk Night is an up close look at an exhilarating, and sometimes terrifying, Labrador Inuit tradition. Every January 6th from the dark of the Nunatsiavut night, the Nalujuit appear on the sea ice. They walk on two legs, yet their faces are animalistic, skeletal, and otherworldly. Snow crunches underfoot as they approach their destination: the Inuit community of Nain. Despite the frights, Nalujuk Night is a beloved annual event, showing that sometimes it can be fun to be scared. Rarely witnessed outside of Nunatsiavut, this annual event is an exciting chance for Inuit, young and old, to prove their courage and come together as a community to celebrate culture and tradition.

An adventurous young boy and his determined mother share a passion for Inuit drum dancing in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Evan’s Drum is a joyful visit to a family’s loving home, and an uplifting story of cultural pride. After generations of silence, the rhythm of the traditional Inuit drum has returned to Labrador, and seven-year-old Evan is part of the new generation that will keep its heartbeat strong.