The pop culture of Nanook.

Comic mentioning Nanook - The Far Side, Gary Larson

Every North American has heard the name Nanook once in their life, but not many people really know who Nanook is. Nanook of the North was directed by Robert J. Flaherty and filmed in Northern Quebec from 1920 to 1921. Flaherty travelled to the fur trade village of Port Harrison with two Akeley motion picture cameras (which the inuit refered to as Aggie) and sought to capture a near dead culture on film. What Flaherty made was arguably the first commercially successful documentary ever made. The film followed the everyman of the north, Nanook and his family. It showed the struggles, triumphs, and comedy of the north.

However, it should be noted that Nanook never existed, and that almost all of the film was staged. Nanook was played by Flaherty's Inuit friend Allakariallak (pronounced Al-ee-ook) and the family in the film wasn't his. Nonetheless, a very successful film that has seeped into popular culture.

Eskimo pies with mascot "Nanuk"


Canadian Arctic sovereignty mission "Operation Nanook"

Yours,

Jarrett