Imiqutailaq - Path of the Arctic Tern

Directed by Geoff Green & Michel Valiquette  Canada  2009  60 min.
Supported by the Government of Canada Program for International Polar Year

Film Synopsis

Path of The Arctic Tern

Imiqutailaq recently premiered at the International Polar Year Film Festival in November 2009. It chronicles the life-altering journey from one end of the Earth to the other, by two Inuit teens (Terry Noah and Jason Qaapiq) from Grise Fiord, Nunavut, Canada’s northernmost Arctic community, to the bottom of the world, Antarctica. The journey was the dream of the late Dr. Fritz Koerner (1932-2008), the irreverent and legendary glaciologist whom the people of Grise Fiord named Imiqutailaq (Arctic Tern), after the little seabird that flies from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back each year. The documentary touches on Fritz’s 50 years traveling Pole to Pole studying the ice, and how he wanted these Inuit youth to better understand the impacts of climate change, and inspire everyone to do something about protecting the Poles and the Planet.


About the Filmmakers

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Geoff Green

Executive Producer / Co-Director / Co-Writer

Canadian adventurer, environmentalist and educator Geoff Green has been leading expeditions and adventures from pole to pole for the past fifteen years. Many notable organizations such as the Discovery Channel, World Wildlife Fund, National Audubon Society and the Smithsonian Institution enlist Geoff to lead their groups into the world’s most remote and exciting regions. In 2004, Outpost Magazine chose Geoff as one of the “Top 5 Canadian Explorers” to watch. As expedition leader, Geoff is a veteran of 75 Antarctic expeditions and 32 Arctic expeditions.


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Michel Valiquette

Director of Photography / Co-Director / Co-Writer

Michel Valiquette is an experienced and accomplished producer of adventure and travel documentaries. He has worked with Geoff Green on various film projects in the polar regions for the past 4 years and has traveled and documented Students on Ice expeditions in both the Arctic and Antarctica. Michel is an avid sailor and has also participated in the production and filming of many other expeditions, notably, “Mission Antarctique” a Radio-Canada production documenting a year-long expedition in Antarctica with Jean Lemire aboard the Sedna IV.


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John Hepworth

Editor / Co-Writer

John Hepworth’s training as a freshwater lake ecologist  (McGill Bsc. 1993) prepared him for the long days and fishy practices of the world of fiction and documentary film making.  As a writer, director and editor he has worked on projects ranging from social issue documentaries (One More River – The Deal that split the Cree, Gemini nominated) to custom car garages (Rez Rides).

Imiqutailaq - Path of the Arctic Tern is his first collaboration as co-writer and editor with Geoff Green and Michel Valiquette.  It was a welcome opportunity to combine his interest in climate change and environmental issues, while learning about the community of Grise Fiord and Antarctica.


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“Endowed with unique and newly endangered life forms and subject to exceptionally rapid climate change, the Antarctic and Arctic regions have a great importance for the generations immediately ahead. I’m glad that Students on Ice is leading the kind of environmental education most needed.”

Dr. Edward O. Wilson,
Professor Emeritus, Harvard University

 

“Students on Ice is an outstanding educational program. Just one of their shipboard expeditions to the polar regions equals two or three academic courses in a traditional university setting. I am proud and honoured to participate in this unique shipboard program.”

Captain Don Walsh,
Honorary Life Member of the Explorers Club; Former Environmental Advisor to the President of the United States of America.

 

“Geoff’s presentation was nothing short of an inspirational tonic for the whole group. He took us far from the everyday grind of our demanding jobs.  It was motivational and refreshing without being contrived or forced.  Almost every team member wrote, called or stopped me later to express their appreciation for and enjoyment of Geoff’s speech.”

Rick Seifeddine, Vice President,
Marketing & Communications, Telus

 

“On behalf of our members, I would like to thank you for being our guest of honour at the 56th Annual Dinner of The Arctic Circle Club!  We were fully absorbed by your talk, “Exploring Minds at Both Poles”, as you took us to both ends of the Earth.”

Tom Lukowski,
President of The Arctic Circle Club