Baffin Caribou on The Road to Nowhere

Ecology is the natural science of the relationships among living organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem and biosphere levels. During my career as a Television Producer, I had the privilege of exploring Canada’s northern biosphere.
 
Baffin Caribou on The Road to Nowhere documents a population which is threatened by global warming, over-hunting and industrial development. In December, 1994, it was minus 60 degrees celsius on The Road To Nowhere in Iqaluit, Nunavut and my last chance to capture the beauty of this fragile Caribou herd. 
 
Step back in time 30 years and explore with me. 

Credits

Director, Camera and Storyteller: Harris Taylor
Editor: Lorna Boschman
Mentors: Lorna Boschman and Sebnem Ozpeta

Created during grunt gallery’s 2024 Mount Pleasant Community Art Screen Digital Storytelling workshops. grunt gallery was founded in 1984 in Vancouver, BC with the vision to become an internationally renowned artist-run centre and further the practice of contemporary art. Through the exploration of our diverse Canadian cultural identity, we are able to offer public programming in the form of exhibitions, performances, artist talks, publications, and other special projects in the community. Our mandate is to inspire public dialogue by creating an environment conducive to the emergence of innovative, collaborative, and provocative contemporary art.

4 thoughts on “Baffin Caribou on The Road to Nowhere”

  1. Wow! Great footage and informative voiceover. I had no idea caribou could survive on lichen. The cars, increasingly passing between caribou and the camera as the narrative went on, visually (and audibly) brought home the message that humans are indeed encroaching on the caribou’s habitat, to the caribou’s peril. When I watched your film, I was blown away! This is a fantastic short film, Harry! Bravo!

    Yes! Your lingering footage of the caribou pawing at the ground to get to the lichen…along with the sound of the steady wind and your calm voice over…it all puts us, the viewers, into their quiet, harsh world for a short time and, as well, provides the information we need to make sense of (and appreciate) what we are seeing. Then the cars and trucks periodically start flashing by, between us as viewers and the herd. Your accompanying message makes it clear that humans are making their hard existence even harder. Finally, the heartbreaking statistics at the end. I feel that you’ve made a very strong statement with this version! Very impactful!

    Thanks so much for sharing your most recent work with me, Harris! It’s a wonderfully beautiful and thought provoking piece!
    Sheila Smart

    I love it!! Well done.
    Anne Buckley

    The animals are beautiful, as is the scenery. Very dramatic piece; with a cool way of getting the encroachment across.
    Mary Lemke

    Thanks so much for sharing this. What a treat to see these beautiful wild animals. They are remarkably resilient. You capture the environment effectively. Wonderful to have this time capsule …These edits strengthen your story. It is so much more impactful! I had to stop and process the statistics. Whoa! Your voice conveys the key messages. I would keep the end notes just before the credits. It is a sombre finishing note.
    Gina Becker

    Thanks so much for the link to your video. It’s wonderful.
    Cyndia Cole

    Thank you Harris, love it.
    Farren Gillaspie

    Looks great! It’s got that real art house feel with a retro look. The passing cars do a great job of punctuating your point. Well done. Thanks for sharing.
    Ingrid Walther

    I enjoyed watching this video.

    The images are haunting and timeless. The first car that went by made me think there was a problem with the video. The second car passing explained the problem was humans, and delivered the message of both the video and a species, “interrupted.”

    I thought that was clever – made me less a passive watcher by inviting me to feel the interruption.

    Thanks for sharing!
    Mela Brown

    Beautiful to see these ghosts. Thanks for sending that.
    Helen Fallding

    Good piece. Nothing like seeing older footage in a contemporary context. I particularly liked the shots of the cars driving by. Their blur worked really well, both literally and figuratively. I also liked that you didn’t “hit the viewers over the head” with what you’re getting at.
    Jase Tanner

    That’s a really sweet video. Good for you for pursuing digital rendering.
    Amy Newman

    Thank you so much for that wonderful video. What beautiful work you have done Harris … Thank you!
    Laura Hosein

    Thanks for sharing the video with me. I showed it on the big TV to the family and we were all surprised at the slim build of the caribou. I can see how they are endangered in such a harsh environment, with such little body fat.
    Celia Payne

    Wow, incredible footage. And the effect of the cars zooming past is really powerful. I like the sparseness of the “narrative”. Well done.
    K.L. Kivi

    I loved the video! The cars whizzing by that barren beautiful landscape were terrifying in that context. As for the titles, they add your own creative touch and are like a sort of poem ending with “Extinct?” on the black background. Very effective.

    Lovely work Harris, you should be proud of yourself!
    John Hamm

    Thanks Harris. Very Informative. I wonder how many caribou there are in the area now?
    Ruth Nicol

    Thanks for the digital story so gracefully told. The cold, the wind, and the scratching caribou with the commentary tell the story powerfully.
    Georgeann Glover

    Thank you for sharing “Caribou” with me. I found it quite touching.
    Mary Brooks

    Beautiful, Harris! I felt cold after watching it.
    Congrats,
    Lauri Kahn

    Amazing Harris.
    Thanks Joan Robillard

    Imagine, those skinny caribou have only lichen on rocks under the snow to eat. They’re so beautiful but sad.
    Thank you for the quiet, thoughtful piece, Harris
    Beverlee Gray

    Thank you so much for sharing your videos. I very much enjoy watching them and listening to your narration.
    Jill Nelson

    This is beautiful.
    Emma Kivisild

    I drank a cup of tea and watched your film. I agree that the sound is something to be listened to. I feel that kind of sound in my bones. I hear the message more than see it. Very well done Harry.
    Mary Lemke

    Reply

  3. Thanks Harris
    A stark reminder of the encroachment of mankind on the fragile north. You have made your point effectively.
    Powerful.

    Reply

  4. Dear Harris,
    Thank you for sharing your video about the Baffin Island caribou! It speaks of their beauty and resilience in an, ever, increasingly harsh world.
    The haunting sound of the wind, the blowing snow, the search for food, the vehicles flashing by and the statistical information are so symbolic of their plight.
    Your calm voice emphasizes the concern that you have, and that we all should have, for their very existence.

    Reply

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