Ungava Gin: apologies for cultural appropriation and insensitivity – RCI | English Ungava Gin, named for the region in northeastern Quebec, issued an apology yesterday, following the … Ungava apologises to Inuit for offensive video showing cartoon characters paddling a canoe past igloos and a man’s voice is heard chanting, Last modified on Tue 28 Nov 2017 14.45 GMT, A Canadian gin company has apologised after its advertising campaigns and branding involving cartoon Inuit characters and young women wearing parka costumes sparked complaints about cultural appropriation. Earlier this month, the video came to the attention of Ossie Michelin, an Inuk freelance journalist, who was rankled by the use of Inuit imagery, and some glaring inaccuracies. Puskas pointed to a 2013 interview in which Crawford said that each year the company hires the same two people in the region to handpick its botanicals. » Embaucher des artistes inuits pour collaborer à sa prochaine campagne publicitaire serait un bon début, croit-elle. La professeure Heather Igloliorte s'étonne du manque de sensibilité culturelle de l'entreprise, mais reconnaît qu'elle a rapidement offert ses excuses. Earlier this month, the video came to the attention of Ossie Michelin, an Inuk freelance journalist who was rankled by the imagery and glaring inaccuracies. ». There have also been complaints that attempts to market the drink in bars by employing women in parka costumes equated to sexualising Inuit to sell alcohol. “This kind of stuff just keeps happening again and again,” he said. Les critiques ajoutent qu'Ungava se sert de symboles autochtones pour vendre un produit qui n'a pas de liens concrets avec la communauté. “We get portrayed as these mythical creatures of the north as opposed to real human beings that have a real culture and would like to have some sort of say in how we are portrayed.”, Canadian universities require indigenous studies: 'It feels good to learn our history'. The result is a gin unlike any other – crafted only from native Canadian botanicals that give Ungava its signature colour and unmatched flavour. Nous sommes profondément désolés et nous engageons à continuellement nous améliorer », écrit-il. Dans son communiqué, Crawford soutient que les images supprimées provenaient d'une campagne publicitaire européenne datant de 2013. Il serait peut-être temps qu'ils réfléchissent à comment ils peuvent contribuer à la communauté. Dès jeudi matin, une cinquantaine des images en question avaient été retirées de la page Facebook d'Ungava. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for comment. Le gin doré est le joyau de l'entreprise, ayant remporté plusieurs prix prestigieux. A marketing video from 2013, titled “Discovering the Inuit”, showed cartoon Inuit characters paddling a First Nations canoe past igloos and polar bears while a man’s voice mimics the style of Inuit throat singers and chants “Ungava”. Selon son directeur de marketing, l'entreprise compte changer son approche, en commençant par le lancement d'un nouveau site qui sera plus axé sur la préparation de cocktails. « Il faut s'assumer, c'est notre marque, nos affaires, affirme Stéphane Hamel. « Nous reconnaissons que la campagne franchissait une limite importante et qu'elle ait pu offenser plusieurs personnes. Mais ils sont assez vagues dans leurs promesses. Stephen Puskas, an Inuk Montrealer and visual artist, says Ungava, a made-in-Quebec gin, has "stolen and exploited" Inuit identity in order to sell its product. « C'est bien qu'ils aient retiré les images et les vidéos, dit-elle. The company is responding to a backlash against promotional material that was recently called out as cultural appropriation. L'artiste montréalais Stephen Puskas souligne que l'utilisation non autorisée de symboles identitaires autochtones enfreint l'article 31 de la Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones, qui accorde aux peuples autochtones « le droit de préserver, de contrôler, de protéger et de développer leur propriété intellectuelle collective de ce patrimoine culturel, de ce savoir traditionnel et de ces expressions culturelles traditionnelles ». Ungava apologises to the Inuit people for offensive video showing cartoon characters paddling a canoe past igloos and a mans voice chanting A Canadian gin company has apologised after its advertising campaigns and branding involving cartoon Inuit characters and young women wearing parka costumes sparked complaints about cultural appropriation “Ungava is proud of our ties to the Canadian Arctic, and our brand identity is intended to celebrate the individuality of the region.” He added that in the future the company will seek to gather feedback on its use of Inuit symbols. Inuit are calling Ungava, a Canadian gin company, for appropriating their culture to sell booze. « Nous engagerons prochainement des spécialistes de la culture inuite pour recueillir des commentaires et des conseils sur notre utilisation de la symbologie de cette culture », annonce par communiqué le président et fondateur de Domaine Pinnacle, Charles Crawford. Michelin joined a growing chorus of voices online taking aim at the company’s use of Inuit culture to sell its product. ». Days later, the company offered its full apology, which Michelin described as a nice first step, though he questioned whether it would lead to any concrete change. Writing on Twitter, throat-singer Tanya Tagaq said the company was “mocking us and profiting off of us”. “I think it would be so amazing if companies actually came to indigenous communities and established real and meaningful partnerships and used that as part of their branding.”, Until that happens, he remained sceptical. En vous abonnant à la newsletter de VICE, vous acceptez de recevoir des courriers électroniques qui peuvent contenir de la publicité ou du contenu sponsorisé. ». En entrevue avec VICE, Stéphane Hamel, le directeur de marketing de Domaine Pinnacle, ajoute que la petite entreprise a été foudroyée par les accusations. We are deeply sorry and we will do better.”. Au Canada, il y a une industrie foisonnante de compagnies non autochtones qui exploitent l'identité indigène. On réalise qu'en grossissant, on doit faire les choses comme il faut. Quebec-made Ungava gin accused of cultural appropriation. The makers of the controversial Ungava Gin say they’re looking for guidance on how to better represent the Ungava region in their future marketing and how to direct benefits to Inuit communities. It’s the unexpected that gives life its true colour. « Ainsi, nous sommes engagés [sic] à être plus soucieux et sensibles de la culture inuite [resic] dans nos activités publicitaires à l'avenir. Stephen Puskas, an Inuk Montrealer and visual artist, says Ungava, a made-in-Quebec gin, has "stolen and exploited" Inuit identity in order to sell its product. « Les échos qu'on a toujours eus de la communauté inuite étaient qu'ils étaient fiers que le gin s'appelle Ungava, dit-il. ». “How do Nunavimmiut [Nunavik residents] benefit from the plants harvested on their land and their identity and language used to sell this alcohol?” Puskas recently asked on Facebook. Naturally Unexpected. More. Franco Buscemi, who lives in Iqaluit, the capital of Canada’s Nunavut territory, criticised the company’s “Inuit Survival Guide”, saying: “Here’s a tip … Don’t use Inuit as mascots to sell your product.”, In a statement, Ungava founder and president Charles Crawford, said: “We are truly sorry that we’ve offended the Inuit community, as this was never our intent, nor does it align with our corporate values and beliefs.