ʔiiḥtuup (Whale) is a short film set on a remote rocky island reservation off the western coast of British Columbia. The story follows Brady, a young boy who is uprooted from his city life after losing his father and sent to live with his grandparents. Struggling with grief and displacement, Brady finds it difficult to adjust—especially alongside his traditional Grandfather, whose ways feel foreign and frustrating to him.

Despite their clashes, Grandfather consistently brings Brady into his world. His days are shaped by generations of cultural knowledge and teachings—wisdom he was unable to pass on to his own son, but that now begins to take root in Brady. As Brady slowly opens himself to this new life, he discovers strength, identity, and a sense of belonging he didn’t know he was missing.

Paralleling a traditional Nuu-chah-nulth story about finding one’s way home, ʔiiḥtuup (Whale) follows Brady on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and the quiet return to who he was always meant to be.