Weekly Discussion Prep Sheet #5

BMST 4404 WEEKLY READING/PODCAST/VIDEO DISCUSSION PREP SHEET Winter 2025 Date: March 11th 2025 PART I KEY POINTS: 1. One of the biggest takeaways from the film is how Western animal rights groups, like PETA and Greenpeace, push policies that end up hurting Inuit people, even though they think they’re "helping" animals. The film makes it clear that for the Inuit, seal hunting isn’t just about making money, it’s about survival, culture, and passing down traditions. But because activists have made sealing seem cruel, governments have placed bans that make it harder for Inuit hunters to make a living. What stood out to me the most was the unfairness of it all. These activists don’t seem to care that Inuit communities rely on the seal hunt for food and economic stability. It made me realize how easy it is for people in privileged positions to push for change without considering the real consequences for people they don’t even think about. It’s frustrating to see how some activists refuse to listen to the voices of the people most affected by their actions. It made me wonder how many other policies exist that claim to be "ethical" but end up harming Indigenous communities? 2. The documentary also shows how media plays a huge role in shaping public opinion about seal hunting. Instead of showing the full picture, news outlets and activists focus on emotional, graphic images of baby seals being killed, making people believe all sealing is violent and unnecessary. What’s missing from those stories is the Inuit perspective, the fact that they hunt adult seals, use every part of the animal, and that their way of hunting is nothing like the industrial sealing that activists focus on. This made me think about how many times I’ve believed something just because it was presented in a way that pulled at my emotions. It’s honestly scary how easily media can frame an issue in a way that makes people completely ignore another side of the story. It also made me reflect on how Indigenous stories are often left out of mainstream conversations unless they fit a certain narrative. If the media is powerful enough to convince people that sealing is wrong without showing the Inuit side, then how many other Indigenous issues have been misrepresented or ignored altogether. 3. I think one of the most inspiring aspects of the film was seeing Alethea Arnaquq-Baril and other Inuit activists take control of their own story. Instead of using the aggressive, confrontational tactics that many Western activists use, they focus on education, social media, and open conversations to explain why sealing is so important to their way of life. I liked that they weren’t trying to fight back with anger but instead with truth and persistence. It was a reminder that activism doesn’t always have to be loud protests, sometimes, real change happens when people refuse to be silenced and keep pushing for their voices to be heard. The film showed how the Inuit are fighting for visibility in a world that often overlooks them, and it made me realize how important it is to listen to Indigenous voices rather than just accept whatever narrative is being pushed by mainstream media or big activist groups. PART II DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: provide two questions related to the reading/media for the group to stimulate discussion. 1. Angry Inuk challenges the idea that activism is always good. Do you think groups like PETA and Greenpeace have good intentions but just don’t understand the consequences of their actions? Or do you think they are aware of the harm they cause and just don’t care? 2. The film shows how social media gives Inuit people a platform to fight back against misinformation about seal hunting. Do you think social media is an effective tool for Indigenous activism, or does it still have the same problems as mainstream media when it comes to controlling who gets to be heard?