Interest: Indigenous Filmmaker
Birth of a Family
Between 1955 and 1985, the federal and provincial governments in Canada took an estimated 20,000 Indigenous children from their homes and placed them in the child welfare system. Often referred to as the Sixties Scoop, this policy was part of the same trend of forced assimilation as residential schools.
Betty Ann was one of these children, and over several decades has worked tirelessly to track down her three siblings. As the foursome piece together their shared history, their family begins to take shape.
This film tackles grief, redemption and discovery as it chronicles the family’s emotional reunion and captures an event that remains painfully elusive for many Indigenous people.
Director
Tasha Hubbard (Cree)
Hubbard is an award-winning filmmaker and an assistant professor in the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of English. Her writing-directing project Two Worlds Colliding won a Gemini and a Golden Sheaf Award. She has also directed the short film 7 Minutes, and the feature docs Birth of a Family and nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, which won Best Canadian Documentary at Hot Docs and at the CSAs. She is currently directing the feature doc Singing Back the Buffalo.
Writers
Betty Ann Adam (Dene), Tasha Hubbard (Cree)
Producer
Bonnie Thompson
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, ESL, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Rise: The Urban Rez
Winnipeg is home to the largest urban Indigenous population in the country, with a high percentage living in a low-income neighbourhood with the highest crime rate in the city. In the face of a staggering number of cases of missing Indigenous women and girls, the community has decided to take a stand, working on an individual level to support, protect and improve the lives of its residents.
Hosted by Gitz Crazyboy (Blackfoot, Dene) this documentary shows the brave fighters who have dedicated themselves to the cause and delves into the underlying factors and intergenerational trauma that has allowed this environment to develop in the first place.
Director
Michelle Latimer
A filmmaker and actor, Latimer’s first short, Choke, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Her credits include several documentaries and dramatic shorts, such as The Underground and Nuuca. She has directed the television series Rise, Burden of Truth and Trickster.
Cast
Sarain Carson-Fox (Anishinaabe), Gitz Crazyboy (Blackfoot/Dene)
Producer
Jarrett Martineau (nēhiyaw/Dene Sųłiné)
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Environment, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Maq and the Spirit of the Woods
Director
Phyllis Grant
Genre
Animation
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Aboriginality
Directors
Dominique Keller, Tom Jackson (Cree)
Writer
Dominique Keller
Cast
Dallas Arcand (Kipohtakaw)
Producers
Dominique Keller, Bonnie Thompson
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Christmas at Moose Factory
Director
Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki)
Legendary Abenaki filmmaker Obomsawin has made over 50 documentaries on issues affecting Indigenous peoples in Canada, including Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, Trick or Treaty?, Is the Crown at War with Us?, Our People Will Be Healed and Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger. Her most recent film is the short documentary Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair. Next, she is set to appear in an episode of Marie Clements' Bones of Crows: The Series.
Genre
Animation
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Châde Wathte Yuta Wagichibi (Dancing with a Good Heart)
Director
Heather Ketchemonia (Anishinaabe)
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Assini
Director
Gail Maurice (Cree/Métis)
Writer
Gail Maurice (Cree/Métis)
Producers
Gail Maurice (Cree/Métis), Melanie Bray
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Biidaaban (The Dawn Comes)
Director
Amanda Strong (Michif)
Writers
Amanda Strong (Michif), Bracken Hanuse Corlett (Wuikinuxv-Klahoose), Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
Producer
Amanda Strong (Michif)
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Boxed In
Director
Shane Belcourt (Métis)
Writers
Shane Belcourt (Métis), Duane Murray
Cast
Jennifer McEwan, Arnold Pinnock
Producer
Lea Marin
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Dancers of the Grass
Director
Melanie Jackson (Métis/Saulteaux)
Writer
Melanie Jackson (Métis/Saulteaux)
Producers
Dennis Jackson (Cree), Melanie Jackson (Métis/Saulteaux), Anand Ramayya
Genres
Animation, Family
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English