INDIGENOUS FILM PROGRAMME

Transcription

1 INDIGENOUS FILM PROGRAMME 1

2 REEL CANADA WHO WE ARE Uniting our Nations through Film REEL CANADA is a charitable organization whose mission is to introduce new audiences to the power and diversity of Canadian film, and engage them in a conversation about identity and culture. Showcasing works by Indigenous filmmakers from Canada is an integral part of that mission. Our travelling film festival has reached nearly a million students and it just keeps growing! WHAT WE DO Our work is delivered via three core programmes, each of which incorporates incredible work created by Indigenous filmmakers: Our Films in Our Schools: For more than 13 years, we have helped teachers and students across Canada organize over two thousand screenings of Canadian film. Welcome to Canada: We introduce new Canadians to Canadian film and culture through festival events designed specifically for English-language learners of all ages. National Canadian Film Day (NCFD): An annual oneday event where Canadians from coast-to-coast-tocoast get together to watch a great Canadian film across all major platforms, online, and in theatres. LESSON PLANS AND RESOURCES With a track record of thousands of successful school screenings, we can give you effective tools to get your colleagues and students excited about your event, and work with you to create a festival that will resonate with your community. We offer: zz Film-specific lesson plans for all feature-length films in this programme zz Lesson plans for Indigenous and Native studies courses zz Lesson plans about Canadian film and storytelling for grades 9 to 12 English and media courses zz Games, quizzes and other resources to help teachers bring this important part of our culture to their students contactus@reelcanada.ca or call to start planning a festival or to access our resources. 1 WHAT IS THE INDIGENOUS FILM PROGRAMME? A selection of Indigenous-made films by filmmakers from diverse Nations across Canada including Abenaki, Anishinaabe, Cree, Dene, Gwich in, Inuit, Métis, Mi kmaq, Heilsuk, and Mohawk We bring these films to students in grades 9-12 for either in-class viewing, or for larger screenings in front of multiple classrooms or an entire school Films featured in the Indigenous Film Programme include something for everyone with documentaries, comedies, dramas, animation and experimental works to choose from Everything we offer is absolutely FREE OF CHARGE WHY AN INDIGENOUS FILM PROGRAMME? Indigenous stories on film have often been told by non-indigenous filmmakers, sometimes even with nonindigenous actors portraying Indigenous characters. This has resulted in a stifling of Indigenous voice and has contributed to stereotypical misrepresentations of Indigenous people in film and television. The presentation of films made by Indigenous artists in schools provides opportunities for dialogue, education and cultural exchange. Benefits For Indigenous Students Research shows and our audiences confirm that seeing oneself on film can be a profound and transformative experience. When Indigenous stories are told by Indigenous filmmakers, the result is authentic, self-determined cultural expression. When First Nation, Inuit and Métis students witness a true reflection of their lives and experiences, the effect is empowering and inspirational. Watching a film about native women makes me happy because I could relate to the things they said, did and thought. Grade 12 student, W.F. Herman SS, Windsor, ON Benefits For Non-Indigenous Students Presenting Indigenous films in schools helps dispel myths and stereotypes by providing a more inclusive history of Canada, and also promotes better understanding and sensitivity to contemporary Indigenous experiences. I may not be Indigenous but I now understand that I have a role to play in changing how we as a collective society view Canada s history. Grade 11 student, Golden SS, Golden B.C. Benefits For Mixed Audiences Movies from the Indigenous Film Programme can be both a mirror and a window as they reflect Indigenous experiences while also providing an opening for cross-cultural exchange and greater understanding. Presentation of Indigenous films can help your school address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission s imperative to explore Aboriginal peoples historical and contemporary contributions to Canada (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, Section 62.i). Education is the key to reconciliation, but only a true and complete experience in education can pave the path to relationships built on mutual respect and peaceful co-existence. National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, University of Manitoba 2

3 INTRODUCTION FROM ARIEL SMITH tānsi! I am thrilled and privileged to join the REEL CANADA team as Manager of the Indigenous Film Programme. Ariel Smith (nēhiyaw) Manager of the Indigenous Film Programme, REEL CANADA REEL CANADA has a national focus and reach. However, I want to recognize and honour the fact that we operate in Toronto, Ontario, on the territory and treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, which is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Huron Wendat, and is subject to the Dish with One Spoon Covenant. We are grateful to be on this land. Within commercial film and television production in Canada, Indigenous peoples have long been underrepresented as makers and misrepresented as subjects. REEL CANADA recognizes this fact and we are passionately dedicated to ensuring that Indigenous films are integrated and included throughout all of our core programmes. We achieve this by building and nurturing relationships with Indigenous filmmakers, programmers and partner organizations that are based on respect and reciprocity. I would like to wholeheartedly thank our partner organizations and all of the members of our Indigenous Film Programme Advisory Committee for their dedication, commitment and wisdom. Jack Blum, Executive Director Sharon Corder, Artistic Director REEL CANADA INDIGENOUS FILM PROGRAMME ADVISORY COMMITTEE Tantoo Cardinal Danis Goulet Ronnie Dean Harris Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs Jennifer Podemski Dr. Duke Redbird Jason Ryle Amanda Strong REEL CANADA recognizes the importance of the calls to action made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), particularly those specific to education, art and media. The TRC calls for intercultural understanding and mutual respect. We seek to answer this call, using film to spark dialogue, build bridges and expand empathy amongst young learners. The Indigenous Film Programme is a valuable resource for educators, students and community members across the country. We believe that Indigenous-made content must be seamlessly integrated into all of our programmes; however, there is also great value in highlighting Indigenous films, specifically through focused initiatives such as the Indigenous Film Programme. This programme and its accompanying catalogue serve as an opportunity to spotlight and celebrate the wealth of incredible work being made by Indigenous filmmakers in Canada today. I greatly look forward to helping you bring this exciting initiative into your school, and warmly invite you to join us as we celebrate and honour Indigenous voices in the classroom. Kinanâskomitin, Janelle Wookey Ariel Smith (nēhiyaw) Manager of the Indigenous Film Programme, REEL CANADA THE FILMS We are committed to celebrating the work of Indigenous filmmakers and believe in the importance of Indigenous stories being told by Indigenous peoples on their own terms. We consider a film to be Indigenous made if an Indigenous director, writer or producer is involved.* Please note: Our use of the term Indigenous is inclusive of Métis, Inuit and both Status and Non-Status First Nations peoples. LEGEND ESL GRADES Denotes films that are appropriate for Englishlanguage learners. Denotes films that contain mature subject matter. Denotes films that were produced by the National Film Board of Canada. NOTES ON FILM RATINGS Our catalogue lists the Ontario Film Review Board s ratings for each film. To check the rating of a particular film in other provinces and territories, please consult the film s page on our website, reelcanada.ca/films. The rating NR denotes a film that has never received theatrical distribution and was therefore never rated by any provincial government film ratings agencies. *Included in the Indigenous Film Programme are a small selection of films by non-indigenous artists. We have included these films as their stories feature Indigenous actors and/or offer a nuanced portrayal of Indigenous life. Indigenous educators have screened these works and have found them to be valuable learning resources. You can find these films on page 13. For the complete REEL CANADA catalogue of great Canadian films, visit reelcanada.ca or write to contactus@reelcanada.ca. REGISTERED CHARITABLE # RR0001 contactus@reelcanada.ca Bathurst Street, Suite 504, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2R Fax:

4 FEATURE FILMS ALETHEA ARNAQUQ-BARIL Arnaquq-Baril is an award-winning Inuk filmmaker whose work has screened on CBC and APTN, and at festivals like Hot Docs and imaginenative. Notable credits include Aviliaq/ Entwined and Tunniit: Retracing the Lines of Inuit Tattoos. ANGRY INUK BIRTH OF A FAMILY (2016) Director/Writer: Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Inuk). Producers: Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Bonnie Thompson. 85 min. PG (2016) Director/Writer: Tasha Hubbard (Cree), Writer: Betty Ann Adam (Dene). Producer: Bonnie Thompson. 79 min. PG We all know about the terrible brutality of the arctic seal hunt or do we? Turns out there s more to this story: families that need to be fed, a hunting practice that began centuries ago and a tradition central to the economy and food security of Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic. Angry Inuk is a story that s over 4,000 years old. The seal hunt is not exactly a laughing matter, but humour and technical savvy go a long way to debunk certain claims. Wryly tackling both misinformation and aggressive appeals to emotion, Inuk filmmaker Arnaquq-Baril equips herself and her community with the powers of social media and yes, #sealfies to reframe a controversial topic as a cultural issue in this 2016 Audience Award-winning Hot Docs hit. Four siblings, taken from their Dene mother s care as infants and raised separately across North America, meet for the first time in this deeply moving documentary. Angry Inuk delivers important information about an issue we tend to think we know everything about, and delivers a powerful emotional punch. Susan G. Cole, NOW magazine Angry Inuk was truly breathtaking. Grade 11 student, Southwood SS, Cambridge, ON ATANARJUAT: THE FAST RUNNER (2001) Director: Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk). Screenwriter: Paul Apak Angilirq (Inuk). Starring: Natar Ungalaaq (Inuk), Sylvia Ivalu (Inuk), Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq (Inuk), Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuk). 161 min. AA (Inuktitut with English subtitles) ZACHARIAS KUNUK An Officer of the Order of Canada, Kunuk is an Inuk director and producer. In 2015, Atanarjuat was selected as the number one Canadian film of all time, according to TIFF s Canada s All-Time Top Ten List. His latest film is Maliglutit (Searchers). Based on an ancient Inuit legend, Atanarjuat is an epic tale of love, betrayal and revenge. The beautiful Atuat (Ivalu) has been promised to the short-fused Oki (Arnatsiaq), the son of the tribe s leader. However, she loves the good-natured Atanarjuat (Ungalaaq), a fast runner and excellent hunter. When Atanarjuat is forced to battle the jealous Oki for Atuat s hand, the events that follow determine not only his fate, but that of his people. Atanarjuat won 20 awards, including eight Genies and the Caméra d Or at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. I am not surprised that The Fast Runner has been a box office hit... It is unlike anything most audiences will ever have seen, and yet it tells a universal story. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times NOTE: Due to the unusually long run time of this film, if you would like to screen Atanarjuat, please contact us to discuss the logistics. 5 They were among the estimated 20,000 Indigenous children who were taken from their homes between 1955 and 1985 and placed in the child welfare system as part of the Sixties Scoop. This policy was part of the same trend of forced assimilation as residential schools. Over several decades, Betty Ann has worked tirelessly to track down her siblings, all of whom have had very different life journeys. Now they reunite, challenged by the sadness and comforted by the joys of learning their full history. Despite the heartache of separation, their love uplifts them all as they move towards the birth of a new family. TASHA HUBBARD An award-winning filmmaker and an assistant professor in the University of Saskatchewan s Department of English, Tasha s solo writing/ directing project Two Worlds Colliding won a Gemini and a Golden Sheaf Award in I enjoyed watching a film about challenges faced by Indigenous families a lot more than just reading and then discussing articles. It s a better way to learn and gave me a new balanced outlook. Student, Great Lakes SS, Sarnia, ON CLUB NATIVE (2008) Director/Writer: Tracey Deer (Mohawk). Producers: Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon, Linda Ludwick. 78 min. NR On the Mohawk reserve of Kahnawake, outside of Montreal, there are two unspoken rules: don t marry a white person, and don t have a child with one. The consequences of ignoring these rules can be dire loss of membership on the reserve for yourself and your child. For those who incur them, the results can be devastating. In this honest and affecting doc, filmmaker Tracey Deer follows the stories of four Kahnawake women whose lives have been affected by these rules, shedding light on contemporary Indigenous identity and asking questions about how we all understand who we are. With her own family as a poignant case study, Deer s film will strike a chord with anyone who s ever thought about ethnicity, culture or their place in the world.... it s a compassionate and compelling exploration of what it means to be Native, to be Canadian, to be a woman and to be in love. Katarina Gligorijevic, exclaim! TRACEY DEER In 2008, Deer became the first Mohawk woman to win a Gemini Award, for Best Documentary Writing on Club Native. Her debut doc was the award-winning Mohawk Girls, which was adapted into a dramatic TV series in 2014, with Deer serving as writer, director and producer. You could hear a pin drop in the auditorium! Teacher, Maniwaki Woodland School, Maniwaki, QC 6

5 FEATURE FILMS (continued) EMPIRE OF DIRT PETER STEBBINGS A longtime film and TV actor, Stebbings made his directing debut with Defendor, which was nominated for four Genie Awards, including Best Screenplay. JENNIFER PODEMSKI Jennifer Podemski is an award-winning film and television producer and actor with a career spanning over 25 years. She is the creator and producer of APTN s famed paranormal series The Other Side. GRADES (2018) Director: Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk). Writers: Zoe Leigh Hopkins, Michael Sparaga. Producer: Daniel Bekerman. Starring: Ta kaiya Blaney (Tla amin), Evan Adams (Tla amin), Lorne Cardinal (Cree). 90 min. PG When single mom Lena (Gee) realizes that her daughter (Eyre) is in danger of succumbing to the same addiction issues she herself faced, she decides to take her daughter and leave the city to return home to her estranged mother (Podemski) in the rural Indigenous community of her youth. The homecoming forces Lena to deal with her past and raises issues that test all three generations of this family of spirited women. Powerful and inspiring, Empire of Dirt was nominated for five Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Picture. When a prominent Kitasoo/Xai Xais activist passes away, his 14-yearold niece Ella (Blaney) embarks on a kayak journey to take his ashes home to Klemtu. It s a race against the clock as Ella tries to make it back in time to give a speech protesting a proposed pipeline that would cross Indigenous land. Empire of Dirt tells a traditional mothers-and-daughters story in a new way by making their Cree heritage and the role it has in their lives and relationships the true heart of the drama. Linda Barnard, The Toronto Star Being able to talk to Jennifer Podemski was an amazing experience that I will always remember. KANEHSATAKE: 270 YEARS OF RESISTANCE (1993) Director/Writer: Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki). Producers: Wolf Koenig, Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki). 119 min. PG An Officer of the Order of Canada, Obomsawin has made over 50 documentaries on issues affecting Indigenous people in Canada. Some notable films include Rocks at Whiskey Trench, Hi-Ho Mistahey! and her latest, Our People Will Be Healed. Legendary documentary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin has created a remarkable body of work chronicling the injustices against Indigenous communities. In July 1990, she spent 78 nerve-racking days filming the standoff between the Mohawks, the Quebec police and the Canadian army. The result is a powerful documentary about a historical moment that catapulted Indigenous issues into the international spotlight and challenged a nation to confront its own history and ongoing colonial processes. Obomsawin takes you to the frontlines to show the resilience of a people who are determined to protect their land at all costs. When you believe in something, and see something unjust, you just have to stand up and fight for it. Alanis Obomsawin, filmmaker 7 ESL (2013) Director: Peter Stebbings. Screenwriter: Shannon Masters (Cree). Producer: Jennifer Podemski (Saulteaux). Starring: Jennifer Podemski (Saulteaux), Cara Gee (Ojibwa), Shay Eyre (Cheyenne/Arapaho/Oglala Lakota/Mnicoujou Lakota). 99 min. 14A Grade 12 student, W.F. Herman SS, Windsor, ON ALANIS OBOMSAWIN KAYAK TO KLEMTU Ella is joined by her aunt, cousin and grumpy uncle (Cardinal), as the four paddle with all their might through the Inside Passage and past the shores of the Great Bear Rainforest. Join this family on the adventure of a lifetime as they learn about themselves and connect with the land around them. ZOE LEIGH HOPKINS Hopkins is an alumna of the Sundance Institute s Feature Film Program, and Kayak to Klemtu is her first feature. Currently, she lives in her father s community of Six Nations, where she teaches the Mohawk language online to students across Turtle Island. It encouraged Indigenous kids to pursue their dreams and stand up for what you believe in. Student, Kelvin HS, Winnipeg, MB REEL INJUN (2009) Director: Neil Diamond (Cree). Producers: Christina Fon, Catherine Bainbridge, Linda Ludwick. 86 min. PG Reel Injun is an enlightening documentary about the way Indigenous people have been depicted in film from the silent era to the present day. Chock-full of clips from hundreds of films and packed with interviews with famous Indigenous and non-indigenous actors, directors and writers, Reel Injun is an entertaining and insightful look at how the powerful medium of film both reflects and influences culture. Director Neil Diamond takes the audience on a trip through time to explore the history of the Hollywood Indian and offers a refreshing, candid and personal analysis, tracing how these cinematic images have shaped and influenced the understanding of Indigenous culture and history. Impeccably well researched and crafted, Reel Injun neatly walks the line in balancing entertainment and education. Todd Brown, ScreenAnarchy NEIL DIAMOND Diamond is known for several award-winning documentaries that focus on Indigenous life and issues. His debut film, Cree Spoken Here, won the Telefilm/APTN award for Best Aboriginal Documentary. His latest film is Inuit Cree Reconciliation with filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk. I know more about myself because of this film. Grade 8 student, John Oliver SS, Vancouver, BC 8

6 FEATURE FILMS (continued) RISE: SACRED WATER & RED POWER STANDING ROCK PARTS 1 & 2* (2017) Director/Writer: Michelle Latimer (Algonquin/Métis). Producers: Jarrett Martineau (nêhiyaw/denesuline), Dean Perlmutter. With Sarain Fox (Anishinaabe) In this powerful new series from VICELAND, Michelle Latimer and host Sarain Fox travel to Indigenous communities across the Americas to meet people protecting their homelands and combating colonization. MICHELLE LATIMER Michelle Latimer s The Underground won the best short film award at the 2014 imaginenative Film & Media Arts Festival. Her latest work is the documentary Nuuca, and she is currently adapting award-winning author Eden Robinson s Son of a Trickster for the screen. While watching Rise I felt like I wanted to become a leader, become more involved in my community, and help support my people. INDIGENOUS CINEMA IN THE CLASSROOM INDIGENOUS-MADE FILMS FOR LEARNERS OF ALL AGES Watch our curated playlists Ages 6 11, ages 12 14, ages 15 18, and professional learning for educators PART 1 45 min. NR Designed to support curriculum PART 2 44 min. NR STREAM FOR FREE NFB.ca/education/indigenous-cinema The unfolding drama of Standing Rock is explored within the context of other key moments in Native American history. Over 5,000 Red Power warriors arrive in Standing Rock to stand in solidarity with other protestors, and halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. *Parts 1 and 2 may be viewed separately or shown together for a combined running time of 89 minutes. Student, R.B. Russell Vocational HS, Winnipeg, MB THE SUN AT MIDNIGHT GRADES (2016) Director/Writer: Kirsten Carthew. Producers: Kirsten Carthew, Amos Scott (Dene). Starring: Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Mohawk), Duane Howard (Nuu-chah-nulth). 9 PG Set in the stunning landscape of the Arctic Circle, this charming coming-of-age drama tells the story of an unexpected friendship between a hunter obsessed with finding a missing caribou herd and a teenage rebel who gets lost while on the run. KIRSTEN CARTHEW The Sun At Midnight marks Kirsten Carthew s directorial debut. Shorter form credits include: The YK Doc Project, Abe & Alfred and Fish out of Water. AMOS SCOTT Based in the Northwest Territories, Amos Scott is an emerging filmmaker and the creator, producer and director of the APTN series Dene: A Journey. After her mother dies, 16-year-old urban princess Lia (Jacobs who won an award at the Whistler Film Festival for her performance) is sent to spend the summer with her Gwich in grandmother in a small community in the far north. Desperate to get back to city life, she steals a boat and heads south. As might be expected, she quickly gets lost, and is soon discovered by Alfred (Howard), a Gwich in hunter who reluctantly helps her navigate the unfamiliar wilderness. A truly inspirational masterpiece that I hope everyone has a chance to see. Blake Priddle, CKLB Radio Festival. Tour. Institute 9

7 SHORT FILMS ANIMATION ᑐᒃᑐᒥᑦ / TUKTUMIT ᑐᒃᑐᒥᑦ/TUKTUMIT Ippiksaut Friesen (Inuk) min. This gorgeously rendered animation explores the way traditional hunting in Nunavut has evolved so that it can continue to play a vital role in contemporary Inuit culture. ABORIGINALITY ABORIGINALITY Dominique Keller, Tom Jackson (Cree) min. A young boy is transported through his television set to the scene of a traditional Indigenous hoop dance, encountering his family s cultural heritage in a new way. BIRCHBARK ASSINI John Hupfield (Anishinaabe) min. Symbols of traditional knowledge come alive and find themselves inside the pages of a book. DANCERS OF THE GRASS Melanie Jackson (Métis/Saulteaux) min. Spectacular stop-motion animation breathes life into a traditional dance. EMPTY BAREFOOT Jackie Traverse (Anishinaabe) min. Set to a song by Little Hawk, this animated story is a daughter s starkly honest tribute to her estranged mother. FIGHTING CHANCE GOD S ACRE Alexandra Lazarowich (Cree) min. An Indigenous youth who s struggling with the intergenerational effects of Canada s Indian residential school system, takes advantage of the chance to turn his life around. THE GIFT THE MOUNTAIN OF SGAANA THE VISIT 11 THE ORPHAN AND THE POLAR BEAR Neil Christopher (Inuk) min. In this adaptation of an Inuit legend, a neglected orphan is adopted by a polar bear elder and learns the skills he will need to survive under the bear s guidance. TRADITIONAL HEALING Raymond Caplin (Mi kmaq) 2013 In this beautiful animation, a woman s sacred healing dance causes a miracle to occur in an otherwise bleak and devastated environment. THE VISIT Lisa Jackson (Anishinaabe) 2009 The charming true story of an encounter between extraterrestrials and a Cree family. WALK-IN-THE-FOREST Diane Obomsawin (Abenaki) 2009 A medicine man walks in the woods and discovers an intriguing secret world. THE MOUNTAIN OF SGAANA Christopher Auchter (Haida) min. A wondrous tale of a young man stolen by the spirit world, and the young woman who comes to his rescue. COMEDY INDIAN Darryl Nepinak (Saulteaux) min. In this amusing and powerful short, the etymology of the word Indian is deconstructed at the Canadian National Spelling Bee. DRAMA Terril Calder (Métis) min. This stop-motion tale explores the historical question of whether smallpox-infected blankets were given by European settlers to Indigenous populations unwittingly, or as a deadly gift. ASSINI MIA AVILIAQ/ENTWINED Amanda Strong (Michif), Bracken Hanuse Corlett (Wuikinuxv-Klahoose) min. A young Indigenous street artist struggles to return home after being transformed into a salmon. Gail Maurice (Cree/Métis) Seven-year-old Assini and her friends often play Cowboys and Indians. But when Assini discovers that she herself is an Indian, the game takes a new turn. Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Inuk) min. (Inuktitut with English subtitles) In the 1950s, two Inuit women attempt to protect their relationship when pressure from their community forces them to marry men. DRAMA (Continued) WAKENING BAREFOOT Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis) min. In a tight-knit Cree community in northern Saskatchewan, 16-yearold Alyssa enjoys the attention that comes with pregnancy until her secret plan unravels. THE BLANKETING Trevor Mack (Tsilhqot'in) min. A fictional confrontation before the real-life smallpox outbreak in the mid-1800s that nearly wiped out the Tsilhqot in First Nation of British Columbia. GOD S ACRE Kelton Stepanowich (Métis) min. A man living alone on his family s ancestral Cree lands is forced to choose between abandoning his home or adapting to rising water levels. KAJUTAIJUQ: THE SPIRIT THAT COMES Scott Brachmayer, Co-Producer/CoWriter: Nyla Innuksuk (Inuk) min. A hunter in the Arctic tries to live by the traditional skills his grandfather taught him but they are difficult for a modern man to apply, and the price of failure is high. QAGGIQ/GATHERING PLACE Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk) min. (Inuktitut with English subtitles) Conflicts arise when families in an Inuit camp build a communal igloo to celebrate the coming of spring with games, singing and drum dancing. SPIRIT OF THE BLUEBIRD Jesse Gouchey (Cree), Xstine Cook min. Cree artist Gouchey creates a personal and poetic tribute to Gloria Black Plume, a woman who was murdered in Calgary in March THROAT SONG* Miranda de Pencier. Executive producers: Alethea Arnaquq- Baril (Inuk), Qajaaq Ellsworth (Inuk) min. A young Inuit woman with a troubled past begins to connect with other victims of violence from her community and reclaims her voice along the way. * Throat Song deals with difficult subject matter (abuse and suicide) Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis) min. Set in the near future, a lone Cree wanderer roams through an urban wasteland overseen by a brutal military occupation, searching for an ancient and dangerous creature. WAPAWEKKA Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis) min. Josh and his father visit their family cabin in Saskatchewan for the last time, confronting the generational differences between their Cree heritage and Josh s urban lifestyle. WHERE THE RIVER WIDENS Zach Greenleaf (Mi kmaq) min. A lyrical ode to the hard work, determination and kinship of the fishermen of Gesgapegiag First Nation. DOCUMENTARY AGAINST THE GRAIN Curtis Mandeville (Métis) min. Survivors of the Indian residential school system attempt to cope with its impact on their personal lives and communities. A good primer for discussions of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report. THE CREATOR S GAME Candace Maracle (Mohawk) min. Denied entry into Europe because of their Haudenosaunee passports, the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team was forced to forfeit their shot at the World Championship. A year later, the team fights to bring the title and national sovereignty to their people. CREE CODE TALKERS Alexandra Lazarowich (Cree) min. This documentary film reveals the role of Cree code talker Charles Checker Tomkins, who used the Cree language during the Second World War to confound and defeat the Axis. HONEY FOR SALE Amanda Strong (Michif) min. A honeybee s tenuous life is documented in this poetic and thoughtful meditation on the fragility of human existence. INUIT HIGH KICK Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Inuk) 2010 A stunning slow-motion visual examination of an athlete performing the traditional Inuit high kick. LELUM (HOME) Asia Youngman (Cree/Iroquois/ Carrier/Métis) min. Witness the beauty and strength of the land through the eyes of empowered Indigenous youth (Lelum is the Hul qumi num word for home ). THE LIFE YOU WANT Michelle Derosier (Anishinaabe) min. In the isolated northern town of Fort Hope, Ontario, many residents are addicted to prescription drugs. One brave community member admits her problem and applies for treatment. MÉMÉRE MÉTISSE Janelle Wookey (Métis) min. A young filmmaker explores her family s past as she schemes to convince her grandmother to accept her heritage, uncovering a legacy of shame and the profound courage needed to overcome it. MOHAWK GIRLS Tracey Deer (Mohawk) min. Three teens from the Kahnawake Indigenous community wrestle not only with decisions about their futures, but also the challenges of maintaining and embracing their Mohawk identity. OVERBURDEN Neil McArthur, Warren Cariou (Métis) min. Indigenous communities in Alberta defend the environment, their health and their way of life in the face of a destructive oil recovery enterprise. RELEASED Chantal Rondeau (Northern Tutchone) min. A traditional artist and former drug addict is released from prison and finds comfort in her passion and talent for embroidery. THE ROUTES James McDougall (Anishinaabe) min. A man cycles through his memories of the local women who have gone missing in his Anishinaabe community. I never knew Canadians made such important films! Grade 11 student, East River CI, Winnipeg, MB TWILIGHT DANCERS* Paola Marino, Theola Ross (Cree) min. Indigenous teenagers use dance as a tool to heal from the trauma of a suicide epidemic in the small, remote community of Pimicikamak Cree Nation. *Twilight Dancers deals with difficult subject matter (suicide) HONEY FOR SALE WAYS OF YESTERDAY Elliott Simon (Anishinaabe) min. Through breakdance and rap, Elliott and Curtis share their life experiences and try to motivate and inspire Indigenous kids to follow their dreams. EXPERIMENTAL MÉMÉRE MÉTISSE INDIGO Amanda Strong (Michif) min. Inspired by Indigenous stories and vividly realized through stop-motion animation, a woman trapped in a cluttered space is freed by Grandmother Spider, who still has some important webs to weave. OVERBURDEN INUKSHOP Jobie Weetaluktuk (Inuk) min. What is the state of Inuit culture on screen? Inuk filmmaker Weetaluktuk mixes archival reels with new footage to make this commentary on cultural appropriation. LITTLE THUNDER Nance Ackerman, Alan Syliboy (Mi kmaq) 2009 Inspired by the Mi kmaq legend The Stone Canoe, this coming-of-age story follows a boy who reluctantly sets out on a canoe trip by himself, as a rite of passage into adulthood. THREE THOUSAND MOBILIZE Caroline Monnet (Algonquin) min. Repurposed NFB footage is used to explore the perpetual negotiation between the modern and the traditional by a people always moving forward. TWILIGHT DANCERS THREE THOUSAND Asinnajaq (Inuk) min. Historic footage of Inuit is woven into a stunning animation to shine a new light over the past, present and future. WAKENING WAVE A RED FLAG Adam Garnet Jones (Cree/Métis) 2009 A whimsical, wordless exploration of Indigenous identity, community and culture. WHERE THE RIVER WIDENS 12

8 FILMS BY NON-INDIGENOUS ARTISTS Included below is a small selection of films by non-indigenous artists. We have included these films as their stories feature Indigenous actors and/or offer a nuanced portrayal of Indigenous life. Indigenous educators have screened these works and have found them to be valuable learning resources. MAÏNA MICHEL POULETTE Montreal writer/director Poulette won numerous awards for Louis 19, le roi des ondes, including the Canadian Screen Award for Best First Feature and the Golden Reel Award. Poulette also directed the TV movie Agent of Influence, starring Oscar winner Christopher Plummer, and the feature film Swept Under. Maïna is an intimate yet epic adventure story set in the Far North in the time before the arrival of the Europeans. Danis Goulet, Cree/Métis filmmaker During a bloody battle between Innu and Inuit, a young Innu boy is captured in the fray. Embarking on a dangerous mission that will forever change her life, Maïna (Supernault), the daughter of an Innu grand chief, promises to venture into enemy territory to rescue him. This is eye-opening and critical and everyone should have the chance to have a programme like this. Soon after she begins her quest, Maïna is herself captured by an Inuk leader (Ootoova), and together they must navigate the perilous journey to the Land of Ice. Based on the novel by award-winning author Dominique Demers, this gripping and visually-stunning film was nominated for three Jutras and six Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Picture. ESL This touching documentary tells the story of a young killer whale named Luna, who gets separated from his family on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Rambunctious, surprising and like a visitor from another planet, Luna endears himself to the community with his determination to make contact, leading to many unexpected consequences. The Whale charts the competing efforts of various community groups, including local families, nearby business owners, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and perhaps most significantly, the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, as they each struggle to help Luna survive. Raising more questions than it can answer, the film is a truly compelling exploration of our relationship with animals. The audience cheered, sighed, laughed and cried for Luna. The hearts of all viewers were captivated. Grade 12 student, Adam Scott CVI, Peterborough, ON 13 Ngozi Okongwu, teacher, Middlefield CI, Markham, ON REEL CANADA is really essential. For students to have access to film, and Canadian film especially for them to see their own stories, especially in a country that gets so much other cinema it s just amazing. (2010) Directors: Suzanne Chisholm, Michael Parfit. Narrator: Ryan Reynolds. Featuring the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation. 85 min. G Chisholm and Parfit co-founded the BC-based Mountainside Films, named one of the world's 100 most influential production companies by Realscreen in Their work has aired on the National Geographic Channel, CBC, CNN, PBS and BBC. Their most recent project is Call of the Baby Beluga. Our students and staff cannot stop talking about this awesome experience. (2013) Director: Michel Poulette. Screenwriter: Pierre Billon. Starring: Roseanne Supernault (Cree/Métis), Ipeelie Ootoova (Inuk), Graham Greene (Oneida), Tantoo Cardinal (Cree/Métis), Reneltta Arluk (Gwich in and Chipewyan-Cree). 102 min. PG (Inuktitut with English subtitles) THE WHALE SUZANNE CHISHOLM & MICHAEL PARFIT The reviews are in! Gr. 10 student, Maniwaki Woodland School, Maniwaki, QC The kind of dialogue REEL CANADA makes possible is so important for...young Canadians. Janelle Wookey, Métis filmmaker I think it inspires us all to tell our stories we have a lot of stories as First Nations people and it is important for First Nations filmmakers to tell our stories. Student, Winnipeg Aboriginal Youth Leadership Programme, Winnipeg, MB Thank you, REEL CANADA, for advocating for Aboriginal storytelling. We have much that we want to share with the world. Roseanne Supernault, Cree/Métis filmmaker This programme has the potential to highlight and shift perspectives on Aboriginal issues. Principal, Southwood Secondary School, Cambridge, ON I would... like to applaud REEL CANADA for the efforts in creating specific programming around Indigenous films and creators to further the dialogue between Canadians and the First Peoples of Turtle Island. Jesse Wente, Ojibway programmer and film critic

9 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS REEL CANADA s Indigenous Film Programme is generously supported by: 720 Bathurst Street, Suite 504 Toronto, Ontario M5S 2R contactus@reelcanada.ca Front and back cover images: Angry Inuk, courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada