Communiqué

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, confront the sins of the past and look to the future in “Twice Colonized” on POV – Oct, 14 at 10pm

Posted on: Tuesday, October 8, 2024

POV

National Broadcast Premiere of Director Lin Alluna’s

“Twice Colonized”

Monday, October 14 at 10:00 pm

POV, the multi-Emmy® and Peabody award-winning documentary series, explores what it means to confront the colonial sins of the past and what it takes to make reparations for the erasure of cultures in Danish director Lin Alluna’s candid, reflexive film, Twice Colonized. In the documentary, Alluna travels with renowned Inuit lawyer Aaju Peter as she embarks on a personal journey to reclaim her language and identity after a lifetime of whitewashing and forced assimilation. The goal, to bring her colonizers in both Canada and Denmark to justice. On a structural level, Aaju shines a new light on the very real effects of colonization, while pointing towards a better future. Twice Colonized, a co-production between Ánorâk Film, EyeSteelFilm, and Red Marrow Media, is the first co-production between Inuit across colonial borders.

An Inuit woman with a tattooed chin raises her a mittened hand to wave to someone. She wears a black jacket with a white floral pattern, fur lined hood and cuffs, and a yellow hat. The hood is up on her head surrounding her face with dark fur. She stands behind a silver car and in the background another car drives by grey houses and a cloudless blue sky. — Aaju Peter
Credit: Lin Alluna

Produced by Emile Hertling Péronard, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Bob Moore, Twice Colonized, will make its national broadcast premiere on POV Monday, October 14, 2024 at 10PM on PBS, in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The film is available to stream until December 13, 2024, at pbs.org, and the PBS App.

In Twice Colonized, Aaju Peter, a lawyer, activist, and grandmother, is a force of nature. As a member of a historically marginalized and oppressed community, Aaju’s heritage puts her in the unique position of someone who has been “twice colonized” — first by Danish settlers in Greenland, and then by modern-day Canadian policies and institutions. As an activist, she addresses the growing crisis of opportunity in the Arctic, defends the human rights and traditions of Indigenous peoples in the region, and is a fierce protector of her ancestral lands. In the film, Aaju takes offense to seal hunt activists, asking for an Inuit exemption so hunters can continue to hunt as they’ve done for generations. She works tirelessly to bring colonizers in both Canada and Denmark to justice while deploying her effusive spirit and illuminating wit to provoke self-examination and personal responsibility among Westerners for imposing their colonial ways. As Aaju launches an effort to establish an Indigenous forum at the European Union, she finds herself facing a complex and deeply personal journey to mend her own wounds from the unexpected passing of her youngest son.

An Inuit woman with tattooed chin and forehead looks into the distance with a stern expression. She wears blue reading glasses and a black headband. Behind her dark shadows reach out to somewhat obscure her face. — Aaju Peter
Credit: Glauco Bermudez

Filmed over five years, throughout the emotionally powerful documentary, director Lin Alluna journeys alongside Aaju as she plumbs through the social and personal wreckage of sanctioned white dominance to find the strength — within her abilities, her community, and her own vulnerabilities — to transform her hardships and painful experiences into something amazing that can inspire others who also struggle with the poisonous effects of colonialism.

Lin Alluna’s Twice Colonized is a powerful example of modernity brushing up against traditional cultures,” said Chris White, Executive Producer, POV. “Lin deftly captures Aaju’s relentless fight for the rights of the Inuit community, the reclamation of her native language and traditions, and how the remnants of colonization continue to shape her life. Lin’s artistry and personal connection to Aaju allowed the story to not just be about Aaju’s remarkable ‘work’, but also delves into her dynamic character and layered history.”

“Aaju and I wanted to make a film that inspires and empowers you by portraying one person’s fight for change”, said director Lin Alluna. “To me, Aaju is a leader who understands that we need imperfect role models who dare to be vulnerable, and it makes me extremely proud that she chose me to make this film with her. We share a vision to paint an intimate and nuanced portrait of what it means for Aaju to be on a journey of self discovery as well as being an ambitious activist searching for a sustainable way to push governments to protect all of our children’s future. I’m very excited that this vision will now reach audiences in the US on Indigenous Peoples’ Day.”

Aaju is a Greenlandic Inuit lawyer and activist, based in Arctic Canada. She is a fierce defender of Indigenous rights and issues related to sustainability and resources. In 2011, she received Canada’s highest honor, the Order of Canada, and since then she has been called upon as an advisor to both the EU and UN

Twice Colonized will be available for streaming concurrently with broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. PBS station members can view many series, documentaries and specials via PBS Passport. For more information about PBS Passport, visit the PBS Passport FAQ website.