Loss of language remains an issue close to the heart of many Inuit. To explain the loss of language within oneSA国际影视传媒檚 own lifetime can be difficult, said Megan Kyak-Monteith, the co-director and animator of Grape Soda in the Parking Lot.

Taqralik Partridge, who also co-directs, tells the story of the loss of language to English within her own family, losing Gaelic through the loss of her grandmother and her fatherSA国际影视传媒檚 troubles keeping Inuktitut alive in himself.

SA国际影视传媒淢y father, sent away with tuberculosis for years and years, lost his language so he spoke only English,SA国际影视传媒� said Partridge in the short film. SA国际影视传媒淔ound his tongue again but never lost the taste of English in his mouth.SA国际影视传媒�

The short film explores PartidgeSA国际影视传媒檚 memories with her relatives, being Inuk and losing Inuktitut and an InukSA国际影视传媒檚 relationship with English.

The matter of losing oneSA国际影视传媒檚 own language also resonated with Kyak-Monteith, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 Inuk but also part Scottish.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I was a kid back home when I could understand Inuktitut, to being able to understand it but not speak it, then now not being able to understand it. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 nice to see other people put it into words, things I feel I still donSA国际影视传媒檛 know how to explain,SA国际影视传媒� said Kyak-Monteith, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 originally from Pond Inlet.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople like my great grandmother who only spoke Inuktitut and I only speak English now. A lot of that has to do with me moving down south,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think the whole thing has to do with reconnecting to Inuktitut, relearning it and what it means to her and I felt really attached to that as well.SA国际影视传媒�

In recent years she started working more with animation, previously working on another project in 2019.

SA国际影视传媒淚 usually work on oil paintings and started doing animations. I tried using materials I felt more comfortable using,SA国际影视传媒� said Kyak-Monteith.

She used oil pastels for her background, put a pane of glass on top, set up the camera on top and painted on the glass, taking pictures of each frame and editing as necessary. The process is a little messy, but sheSA国际影视传媒檚 comfortable with it, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t took a while preparing for it, but now I think ISA国际影视传媒檓 ready to do more animations in the future.SA国际影视传媒�

The eight-minute short film Grape Soda in the Parking Lot is a part of the CBC Gem series How to Lose Everything, a series of animated short films by Indigenous peoples across Canada exploring the loss of their languages. Grape Soda in the Parking Lot is also available in Inuktitut.

The Pond Inlet filmmaker said she was able to meet with the other filmmakers in this series, and said she was proud to work with SA国际影视传媒漰eople I really admire as animators and writers.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒滻tSA国际影视传媒檚 really nice to know weSA国际影视传媒檙e all making work together, all being Indigenous, all across Canada.SA国际影视传媒�