Michelline Ammaq - Costume Designer
My name is Michelline Ammaq. I’m the costume designer. I decide how the costume is going to be designed for the Igloolik cast.
Are there differences between men and women’s costumes?
Yes, there are two different styles for women and three styles for men. The parkas and kamiks are almost done. We’re also beading a fancy amauti for ‘Shoofly’.
How long have you been with Isuma?
I first participated back in 1988 the Isuma films Qaggiq and Nunaqpa. The first film we used cloth got the costumes, but for Atanarjuat we had made traditional clothing from fur and skins.
I heard you had an experience with a narwhal?
Last summer, they were saying that narwhals were close so I couldn’t help but go home from work to get ready to go hunting. I got ready and went down. I drove the boat and my son Isa had the rifle and husband Samuilie had the harpoon. We drove them close enough to the shore and I was close enough that I had this once in a lifetime opportunity and so I harvested it. I would love to be a hunter but I can’t go hunting because I have to work.
Have you always lived in Igloolik?
I grew up in Qaqqalik in an outpost camp. I spent some time in Chesterfield Inlet. I can say that I’ve been here since the age of 12 and had also lived in an outpost camp from 1996-1998.
