Natar Ungalaaq facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Natar Ungalaaq
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Ungalaaq in 2019
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| Born | 1959 (age 65–66) Igloolik, Nunavut, Canada
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| Years active | 1991–present |
Natar Ungalaaq (ᓇᑕᕐ ᐅᖓᓛᖅ, born in 1959) is a talented Inuk artist from Canada. He is known as an actor, a filmmaker, and a sculptor. His amazing artwork is featured in many important collections of Inuit art.
Before becoming famous, Ungalaaq played big roles in Canadian and American movies. These included Kabloonak (1995) and Glory & Honor (1998). He is most famous for his main roles in Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001) and The Necessities of Life (2008). Natar also works as a producer and director for the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation.
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Early Life and Artistic Journey
Natar Ungalaaq started carving when he was very young. He was about 9 or 10 years old. He learned to carve using his grandfather's tools. His beautiful white soapstone carving, "Sedna with a Hairbrush 1985," is displayed in the National Gallery of Canada.
Natar was also good friends with director Zacharias Kunuk. They worked together to sell their handmade carvings. With the money they earned, they bought their first camera equipment in 1981. They even started a film company in their Inuit community. This was amazing because their community didn't even have a TV at the time!
Acting and Directing Films
Natar Ungalaaq has starred in many films. His most well-known roles are in Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner and The Necessities of Life. These movies helped share Inuit stories with the world.
In 2016, Natar also became a director. He co-directed the film Searchers with his friend Zacharias Kunuk. This marked his first time directing a movie.
Notable Film Roles
- 1994: Frost Fire (TV) as Inuit
- 1995: Kabloonak as Mukpullu
- 1998: Glory & Honor (TV) as Ootah
- 2001: Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner as Atanarjuat
- 2008: The Necessities of Life as Tiivii
- 2016: Iqaluit as Noah
Awards and Recognition
Natar Ungalaaq has won many awards for his acting and filmmaking. In 2002, he won the Best Actor award at the American Indian Movie Awards for his role in Atanarjuat.
He also won the Genie Award for Best Actor for his performance in Ce qu'il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life). He received the Jutra Award for Best Actor and the Best Actor award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival for the same movie.
In 2009, the Nunavut Film Development Corporation gave Natar a special award. This award recognized all his hard work and how much he has helped the film community in Nunavut. In 2016, his film "Maliglutit (Searchers)" won the Best Indigenous Language Production award at the ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival.
