Nirilaurta: Let Us Eat - Film and Discussion with Writer and Director Mayala Qaunriq Chapman

On the edge of the Arctic Ocean, the community of Taloyoak, Nunavut, is working to feed its families. Soaring grocery prices and the high cost of hunting and travel in the North leave many households facing food insecurity. Harvesting traditional foods from the land is central to Inuit culture and has kept families fed for countless generations. From breathtaking landscapes to intimate meals around the table, the beauty of Arctic life shines through as food brings together family, neighbours and community.

Malaya Qaunirq Chapman is an Inuit actor, producer and emerging director from Iqaluit whose work bridges storytelling and cultural identity. She starred in Restless River (2019) and Aviliaq: Entwined (2014) and served as executive producer on Heaven’s Floor(2016), inspired by her own life. From early roles on the comedy show Qanurli to hosting acclaimed series and, most recently, her role as Auntie Eva on the hit TV show North of North, Chapman brings Northern voices to the screen with authenticity and passion. Nirilaurta is her first documentary.