Lauren-Day Four

This afternoon I went down to the CIFF to see The Last Days of Shishmaref. The film was excellent. Shishmaref is a tiny island off of northwest Alaska. As a woman in the movie stated, "We are Inupiaq first, and Americans second." This close-knit, Eskimo community lives and works together in harmony even as their world changes drastically around them. The world knows that global warming is happening, yet in Shishmaref, the effects are often noticeable right in people’s backyards.
The film follows three families, each in different individual situations, yet bound together by their heritage. The Inupiaq Eskimos have lived on Shishmaref for over 4,000 years. That is QUITE a number. However, experts are estimating that the island will be washed away in less than ten years. The village is an interesting one. There is no running water, yet there is electricity and snowmobiles. I didn't really understand the whole no running water thing since there was electricity, but what do I know. It also appeared, judging by the amount of trash in one of the houses and strewn around outside, that there is no clear method of trash disposal in Shishmaref. I keep wanting to say "Western” culture clearly has permeated their lives, but that would be incorrect since the Inupiaq are American. One of the males in the film said something to the extent of, "We have one foot in our old, traditional ways and the modern world has another foot in." This is clearly evident in the film. Teenagers listen to hip hop and play videogames and a mother of five discusses how the children want iPods and spaghetti for dinner all the time. I was a little confused however as to HOW this community made money. Especially since the groceries and gas are so expensive. Shishmaref is also a dry island. There is no alcohol allowed. A few of the men discussed how the ballot wording was confusing and they all seemed to want to be able to enjoy a nice cold one after hunting.
The Inupiaq have learned to adapt to the modern world creeping in. I hid my face as the film crew captured a caribou hunt and showed as three men decapitated the animal with a small hunting knife. Many thanks to the man next to me who told me when it was over. This same man also leaned over to me and whispered, "Isn't it amazing how this is the way they live. This is a necessity." And he was right. As bloody as it was, I was in awe of the fact of three men on the ice skinning the caribou by hand and not wasting a thing. The same for when they killed a seal. Yes it was bloody and it may seem inhumane, but it is a way of life for these people.
And all of this is at risk to be washed away. Literally. The sea is eroding the land. Houses are capsizing, and the days are warmer, sooner and longer. I'm assuming it is only a matter of time before the wildlife patterns change if they have not already done so, which will greatly effect food supplies. Relocation costs are expected to be over $100 million dollars. The people also did not seem to speak very highly of government. One went as far as to say, "That man who only cares about wars overseas, is not going to help us." Perhaps that will change now due to the current administration.
The end of The Last Days of Shishmaref showed a group in Tin Creek, a city on the mainland that the community has chosen to relocate to when that time comes. There are fears of moving from an island to the mainland, as the modern world will be even more accessible. I am interested in what will come of Shishmaref and its inhabitants. The film not only provided an up close look at how global warming affects individuals personally at home, but also how it may be the factor in ripping apart a community. I could see in the people's eyes how they sad they were discussing what they are faced with. Hopefully, this film will help get the word out.