A National Film Board of Canada Production

Filmmaker Holly Andersen of Makkovik, Nunatsiavut, always knew that the house she lives in carries within its frame the echoes of the forced displacement of northern Labrador Inuit. In Hebron Relocation, Andersen explores what makes a place a home as she speaks with friends and family about how the relocation impacted generations of Labrador Inuit.

Andersen’s house was one of many homes across Labrador hastily built for incoming northern Inuit relocatees. In 1959, residents of the community of Hebron were told that, without question, they would be divided up and relocated to more southerly communities across Labrador. Most families were not prepared for such a drastic change and left everything they knew behind.

Weaving together intimate stories from her community with rare footage that gives us a glimpse of community life during this upheaval, Andersen provides a heartfelt look at a difficult past that has changed the lives of Labrador Inuit forever.

Filmmaker Holly Andersen of Makkovik, Nunatsiavut, always knew that the house she lives in carries within its frame the echoes of the forced displacement of northern Labrador Inuit. In Hebron Relocation, Andersen explores what makes a place a home as she speaks with community members about how the relocation impacted generations of Labrador Inuit.

Located in an area of Makkovik still known as Hebron End, Andersen’s house was one of many homes across Labrador communities that were hastily built for incoming northern Inuit relocatees. The few houses that remain are reminders of how the relocations reshaped not just Makkovik, but many communities in Nunatsiavut. Realizing she did not know the whole story behind the relocations, Andersen felt compelled to learn more about her community’s connection.

In 1959, residents of the northern Labrador Inuit community of Hebron were told that, without question, they would be divided up and relocated to more southerly communities across the region. Community members travelled south by boat for hundreds of kilometres to their new homes, including the community of Makkovik. Most families were not prepared for such a drastic change. They left everything they knew behind, and integrating into new communities was not always easy. Even though these families were relocated generations ago, many still consider themselves to be living far from home.

Growing up, Andersen knew of the relocations, with some of her friends and neighbours being descendants of the relocatees, but she did not realize the extent to which Inuit in Nunatsiavut were still feeling the impacts of their displacement. Through touching conversations with community members, Andersen guides us with care as she learns about their stories of relocation and reflects on what it has meant for their families. By weaving together intimate stories from her community with rare footage that gives us a glimpse of community life during this upheaval, Andersen provides a heartfelt look at a difficult past that has changed the lives of Labrador Inuit forever.

In Hebron Relocation, Holly Andersen explores what makes a place a home as she learns more about her community’s connection to generations of displaced northern Labrador Inuit.

As a photographer living in Makkovik, Labrador, I am surrounded by beautiful landscapes, people and stories all year round. It’s easy to see or hear something fascinating in this singular place. My interest in photography started in my teens and by my thirties I was doing it professionally, but my foray into filmmaking is recent. This move toward film was inspired by my love of learning, especially about my community, and especially about the Hebron relocation.

Growing up in Makkovik, the echoes of the Hebron relocation surrounded me daily. Until I made this film, I didn’t know the true extent of the tragedy. As I started learning, I wanted to share the story in a fresh way for younger generations, and to reiterate the necessity of remembering what happened.

Making this film was an extraordinary experience. I am looking forward to audiences journeying with me, learning as I learned, and to welcoming them into a space of respect for Labrador history. Hearing firsthand from Elder Gus Semigak was an experience I feel extremely grateful for. To listen to him talk about his homeland, how much he misses it, and how much love he has for it, makes it hard to understand why government and health authorities thought this relocation was “the right thing to do.”

As I was making this film, I found resources to help me learn more. One of them was the book Dispossessed by Carol Brice-Bennett. She had conducted many interviews with many relocatees, as well as some members of the community. It was a great inside look into how the decision was made and carried out, and how the Hebron Inuit felt about it. They didn’t just lose their home; they lost some of their culture and language as well.

Ultimately, my hope for this film is to educate and inform people that the Hebron relocation happened, and even though it occurred 64 years ago, the pain and heartache of the relocation is still felt today.

The Labrador Documentary Project (Lab Doc Project) supports Indigenous storytelling by working with first-time Labrador Inuit filmmakers to create and distribute Inuit stories from Inuit perspectives. The Lab Doc Project is led by Inuit through community collaboration, and focuses on topics selected by the filmmakers through a process of reflection and community engagement. This initiative aims to elevate Indigenous storytelling in Newfoundland and Labrador, create film opportunities for Inuit, and proactively diversify our industry. There are four films in this Project, with two launching in 2021, and the remaining films launching in 2023.

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