Mâtinamâkêwin: The Offering

An intimate glimpse into the life of Sylvia Bird as witnessed by the Clark Family. The film gives a unique perspective regarding mental health. Particularly an Indigenous perspective, highlighting how we are all interconnected and affected as spiritual people by trauma and how we have learned to cope, differing from the colonial narrative of mental health and alcoholism within Indigenous communities.

We are taught by the Elders to offer plates of food and tobacco out for the spirits we wish to feed. The offering exposes how the Clark family unintentionally feeds the spirit, when their true intentions are kind-hearted.

Produced by the students of 2023 CBC New Indigneous Voices, presented by the National Screen Institute.