The Encounter is about Canadians who venture into unfamiliar territory, even though they never cross a border. When men and women of Caucasian origin settle in First Nations and Inuit communities, they experience a profound culture shock: a new language, customs, climate, value systems. Cultural guilt and anxiety about acceptance wrestle with their emotional attachment to communities in which mutual respect and strong family ties are essential to survival. Filmed in the Arctic Circle, in the bush, on a reserve and in an urban environment, The Encounter reflects the casual rhythms of a people linked to nature, showing cultural differences being bridged in intimate, everyday living.