Nanualuk — Northern Expedition

Discussions surrounding climate change are often disproportionately focused on southern regions. Nanualuk shifts this perspective, highlighting the changes currently being observed in the Far North through the eyes of the Inuit communities who call it home.

Inspired by Inuit author Jamesie Fournier, the experience invites visitors to join Junior Hunters on an expedition led by scientific researcher Maata. She challenges them by asking if the changes they've witnessed are attributed to scientific data or the legend of Nanualuk, the Great Polar Bear? Solving this mystery requires participants to navigate the exhibition's immersive challenges.

Young explorers embark on their mission by collecting a nanuup tuminga badge, shaped like a polar bear paw. This digital backpack allows them to collect expedition-related skills as they complete challenges throughout the experience.

The missions are designed to engage visitors in hands-on learning, such as testing for changes in ice thickness, observing snow formations, interpreting thermokarst phenomena, lighting a campfire, stargazing, and even identifying Lagopus chicks and Arctic animal scat. To succeed in their quests, explorers can find clues at two immersive learning areas: the School and the Community Centre.

Through these diverse activities, which touch on both nature and culture, visitors gain a more holistic understanding of Northern life. The large number of missions easily accommodates big groups and allows for smooth visitor flow, with the exhibition capable of welcoming up to a hundred players in certain time slots.

Given the exhibition's focus on the challenges faced by Inuit communities, collaboration with Inuit was fundamental to the design process. To honor Inuit culture, which is deeply rooted in oral traditions, storytelling, exchange, and sharing, the Montréal Science Centre partnered with Boîte Rouge VIF, an Indigenous co-creation organization, to consult with community members.

This collaborative spirit extended into production. Jamesie Fournier's ongoing involvement shaped the exhibition's narrative, while Iima Arngag's illustrations, largely based on real people, challenged stereotypes and promoted diverse representation. Additionally, Inuk voice actors brought the missions to life, and content was made available in Inuktitut, offering visitors an introduction to the language's alphabet and words.

Nanualuk offers a window into the lives of those in the Far North, building public awareness of the pressing challenges faced by our fellow citizens. This insight cultivates a deeper connection to the Arctic, empowering visitors to understand their vital role in confronting the natural phenomena that impact both northern and southern communities. The realities of Inuit territories are intrinsically tied to our local realities in Montreal.