Tony: Back from the Brink prompts screenings, stories

Tony Kalluk should have been long dead. Instead, he's on a rocky road to redemption.

That's the premise of a 45-minute documentary film produced by Clyde River's Piksuk Media.

Tony: Back from the Brink tells how Kallukgrew out of a horrendous childhood and into a violent life of crime, spending over 20 years in the prison system.

• Scroll down to watch the entire film

Against the odds, he managed to turn his life around and return home, where he began counselling others heading down a similar path, though it's clear his struggle is far from over.

The film is "storytelling, plain and simple" writes Nunavut defence lawyer Malcolm Kemptin his review.

• OPINION|Tony Kalluk's story offers hope for hardened criminals, and raises questions

It's also servedas a starting point forstories on the theme of justice and healing.

TheCBC's Curtis Mandeville spoke to a former N.W.T. inmate about the lack of programming in the territory's prison system.

• IN DEPTH|'It's all a big hoax': Jail offers no chance of redemption, says former inmate

The film also prompted Mandeville to learn more about his uncle,Dennis Lafferty, who spent much of his life in jail.

• PROFILE |Life of crime: One former inmate's journey through prison and back

Yellowknife-basedKate Kyle reported on the N.W.T.'s new wellness court, and one man who says it's helping him turn his life around.

• FEATURE |N.W.T. wellness court aims to help man end 30-year criminal record

Screeningsheld in Yellowknife, Iqaluit, planned forWhitehorse

CBC North held a free public screening of thefilm at Northern United Placein Yellowknife on Wednesday, April 27.

It wasfollowed bya panel discussion withDeneleaders, healers and people who work inside and outside of the justice system.

A screening was held in Iqaluit May 12 at the Astro Theatre for students of Inuksuk High School.

That screening also featured advice from inmates currently held in Iqaluit.

• AUDIO |Nunavut inmates watch Tony: Back from the Brink, share advice with high school students

CBC is also planning a screeninginWhitehorse at a to-be-determined date.

• Watch the full video here