Strange Empire is a TV show set in the Canadian Wild West during the late 1860s. It follows the story of a group of strong and resilient women who navigate the challenges of the era, including racism, power struggles, and the fight for survival in a harsh environment.
An Apache of mixed blood tries to make peace between Indians and whites.
Part of the Daughters of the Country series, this film, set in the 1850s, unfolds against the backdrop of the Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly of the fur trade. In protest, some Métis engage in trade with the Americans. Madeleine, the Métis common-law wife of a Hudson's Bay Company clerk, is torn between loyalty to her husband and loyalty to her brother, a freetrader. Even more shattering, a change in company policy destroys Madeleine's happy and secure life, forcing her to re-evaluate her identity.
The story of a fictional town suffering from an outbreak of severe water contamination.
After marrying a settler, Mary Two-Axe Earley lost her legal status as a First Nations woman. Dedicating her life to activism, she campaigned to have First Nations women's rights restored and coordinated a movement that continues to this day. Kahnawake filmmaker Courtney Montour honours this inspiring leader while drawing attention to contemporary injustices that remain in this era of truth and reconciliation.
How the Fiddle Flows follows Canada's great rivers west along the fur-trading route of the early Europeans. The newcomers introduced the fiddle to the Aboriginal people they intermarried with along the way. A generation later, their mixed-blood offspring would blend European folk tunes with First Nations rhythms to create a rich and distinct musical tradition. From the Gaspé Peninsula, north to Hudson Bay and to the Prairies, How the Fiddle Flows reveals how a distinctive Metis identity and culture were shaped over time. Featuring soaring performances by some of Canada's best known fiddlers and step dancers and narrated by award-winning actress Tantoo Cardinal.
A film about the actions of the Metis rebel leader who opposed the Canadian government in two seperate rebellions.
Foster Child is a documentary short film that dives into the life of a foster child in Canada. It delves into the challenges faced by the protagonist, who is of indigenous descent, and highlights the importance of stability and love in their upbringing. The film sheds light on the unique struggles faced by indigenous foster children and the impact of the system on their lives.
Women in the Shadows (1992) is a documentary that delves into the untold stories of indigenous women in Canada. It sheds light on their struggles, resilience, and contributions to society. The film focuses on the rich history of indigenous cultures, the challenges faced by indigenous women, and their role in shaping Canadian history. Through interviews, archival footage, and expert analysis, this documentary provides a comprehensive look at the lives and experiences of indigenous women in Western Canada, particularly in Manitoba and the Hudson Bay region. It highlights their unique perspectives, the impact of colonization, and the ongoing fight for recognition and rights.
Opera by Harry Somers portraying Metis leader Louis Riel and his Northwest Rebellion.
This feature documentary uses animation, archival stills and live-action footage to detail the history of women's participation in the largely male-dominated world of baseball and softball. Zany and affectionate, it features 7-year-olds learning the rules and skills of the game and 50-year-olds hitting home runs, from the early days of the Bloomer Girls to the heyday of the Colorado Silver Bullets.
Set in 1815, this is the dramatic story of a child of the fur trade, son of a Native mother and a Scottish-Canadian fur trader. John Mackenzie's father is a wintering partner of the Montréal-based North West Company, which was for decades the wealthiest merchant enterprise in North America. To mark his entry into adulthood, twelve-year-old John is travelling for the first time to Fort William, the Company's lavish winter headquarters by Lake Superior. In following his journey, the film reveals the complex network of people--Scottish, French and Native Canadian--that made up fur-trading society and gave a unique flavor to the opening up of Canada's northwest.
Animated film of a traditional Franco-Manitoban tale that resembles the story of the first Christmas.
Nose and Tina is a thought-provoking documentary short that delves into the interconnected themes of reproduction, prostitution, and sexuality. Through the lens of First Nations, Indigenous Peoples, and Métis women, the film explores the nuanced complexities of these issues within the context of family and social concerns. It offers a unique perspective on the challenges faced by marginalized communities and sheds light on the experiences of those who have often been silenced.
Both a requiem for and an honoring of Canada's First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women, this short film deconstructs the layers of Canadian nationalism. In the process, it reverses the colonial lens by shifting the balance of power to reclaim the Canadian narrative, putting the enduring strength and resilience of Indigenous women at the forefront.
This documentary short is a cinematic recording of Tales from a Prairie Drifter, a stage comedy about the North-West Resistance during the opening of the Canadian West. Highlighting the roles of Louis Riel, the Resistance leader, prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald and General Middleton, who was sent to quell the uprising, the play defines the First nations and Métis cause more succinctly than many history books. Here, the play is performed by the Regina Globe Theatre before and Indigineous audience of First Nations and Métis, whose reactions are recorded.
This very short film from the Canada Vignettes series documents the annual pilgrimage that members of Saskatchewan’s Métis Catholic community make to St. Laurent, a village in the Duck Lake area that became the Métis nation’s spiritual centre at the time of the 1885 Northwest Rebellion.