LoyalistLibrary: Indigenous Studies: Films

Selected Films at Loyalist: Indigenous Resources

Evan's Drum by Ossie Michelin (Dir.) " After generations of silence, the rhythm of the Inuit drum has returned to Labrador. Evan’s Drum is a joyful, intimate window into the lives of an Inuit family who work alongside their community to keep this drumbeat alive. At the heart of this story is seven-year-old Evan and his mother, Amy. In many ways, Evan is your typical adventurous and playful child; however, when it comes to the drum, his focus and passion for the instrument transcends his age. Among the first Labrador Inuit children in living memory to be raised with the traditional drum, Evan is part of a new generation of drum dancers. He was drawn to it from a very early age and is encouraged by his mother—an accomplished drummer and performer who took up the instrument in her teens. Proud of her son’s genuine interest in the drum, Amy surrounds Evan with its heartbeat and guides him through the process of creating his own drum, aided by the expertise of Jennie Williams, one of a handful of Inuit women drum makers. The remarkable bond between mother and son, and their shared connection to the drum, link them to past and future generations of Labrador Inuit drummers. Labrador Inuk filmmaker Ossie Michelin takes us to Happy Valley-Goose Bay and into Amy and Evan’s welcoming family home. Their love of drum dancing reflects the strong sense of pride that Labrador Inuit have in their traditional drum, which has become a symbol of cultural renewal and strength." -- NFB website
Call Number: Streaming Video

Publication Date: 2021
Ever Deadly by McMullan, Chelsea (dir.); Tagaq, Tanya (dir.)
Call Number: Streaming Video

Publication Date: 2022
Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again by Courtney Montour (Dir.) "Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again shares the powerful story of Mary Two-Axe Earley, who fought for more than two decades to challenge sex discrimination against First Nations women embedded in Canada’s Indian Act and became a key figure in Canada’s women’s rights movement. Using never-before-seen archival footage and audio recordings, Mohawk filmmaker Courtney Montour engages in a deeply personal conversation with the late Mohawk woman who challenged sexist and genocidal government policies that stripped First Nations women and children of their Indian status when they married non-Indian men. Montour speaks with Cree activist Nellie Carlson, Mary’s lifelong friend and co-founder of Indian Rights for Indian Women, and meets with three generations in Mary’s kitchen in Kahnawà:ke to honour the legacy of a woman who galvanized a national network of allies to help restore Indian status to thousands of First Nations women and children." -- NFB website
Call Number: Streaming Video

Publication Date: 2022
Our People Will Be Healed by Alanis Obomsawin (Dir.) "Our People Will Be Healed, Alanis Obomsawin’s 50th film, reveals how a Cree community in Manitoba has been enriched through the power of education. The Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre in Norway House, north of Winnipeg, receives a level of funding that few other Indigenous institutions enjoy. Its teachers help their students to develop their abilities and their sense of pride." -- NFB website
Call Number: Streaming Video

Publication Date: 2017
The Road Forward by Marie Clements (Dir.) "The Road Forward, a musical documentary by Marie Clements, connects a pivotal moment in Canada’s civil rights history—the beginnings of Indian Nationalism in the 1930s—with the powerful momentum of First Nations activism today. The Road Forward’s stunningly shot musical sequences, performed by an ensemble of some of Canada’s finest vocalists and musicians, seamlessly connect past and present with soaring vocals, blues, rock, and traditional beats. A rousing tribute to the fighters for First Nations rights, a soul-resounding historical experience, and a visceral call to action." -- NFB website
Call Number: Streaming Video

Publication Date: 2017
This Is Who I Am by Manuel Ibanez (Dir.)
Call Number: Streaming Video

Publication Date: 2018
Three Thousand by Asinnajaq (Dir.) "In this short film, Inuk artist Asinnajaq plunges us into a sublime imaginary universe—14 minutes of luminescent, archive-inspired cinema that recast the present, past and future of her people in a radiant new light." -- NFB website
Call Number: Streaming Video

Publication Date: 2018
Voices Across the Water by Mueller, Fritz
Call Number: Streaming Video

Publication Date: 2022

Indigenous-Themed Video Collections from Curio (CBC)

Indigenous Education (CBC Curio) A theme examining the successes and challenges of Indigenous education in Canada today.
Indigenous Films (CBC Curio) A look at Indigenous filmmaking in Canada and a selection of Indigenous films available on Curio.
Indigenous Governance (CBC Curio) This theme examines issues of Indigenous governance, including land and resource managements rights, the future of the Indian Act and other laws and policies impacting Indigenous communities in Canada today.
Indigenous Language Revitalization (CBC Curio) "I feel stronger, more powerful, wiser..." This is how one language speaker describes the personal impact of learning his mother tongue. This theme explores the efforts underway to reclaim Indigenous languages in Inuit, Métis and First Nations communities throughout Canada.
Indigenous Youth (CBC Curio) This theme takes a closer look at the hopes, experiences and challenges of Indigenous youth in Canada today. Among the topics examined are cultural identity, community engagement, education, the environment and relations with law enforcement.
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (CBC Curio) The statistics on missing and murdered Indigenous women are stark and staggering. A 2015 United Nations report found that young Indigenous women are five times more likely to die under violent circumstances, as compared with their non-Indigenous counterparts. It also reported that Indigenous women report rates of violence 3.5 times higher than non-Indigenous women. The videos in this collection present a snapshot of the situation and recount the stories of the families and communities affected by this national tragedy. CBC News has probed 230 unsolved cases of Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women, confirming them through an exhaustive process that included checks with police, families, community leaders and other organizations. More than 110 families participated in interviews, recounting stories about their loved ones. They also described their experiences with the police. For more information, please visit the CBC interactive website Missing & Murdered: The Unsolved Cases of Indigenous Women and Girls. Warning: The videos in this collection contain strong language and mature content. Viewer discretion is advised.
Residential Schools (CBC Curio) Since the late 19th century, about 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children were removed from their families and forcibly sent to residential schools. The last residential school, near Regina, closed its doors in 1996. Residential schools were a key tool of cultural genocide against Canada's First Nations. This theme provides a concise overview of this dark page in Canadian history.
Truth & Reconciliation in Canada (CBC Curio) The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was formed as a means of reckoning with the devastating legacy of the residential school system. From 2008 to 2014, the commission heard stories from thousands of residential school survivors. In 2015, it released a report that included its Calls to Action – instructions to guide governments, communities and faith groups down the road to reconciliation.

Streamed Video Collections at Loyalist College

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Indigenous Studies: Films

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Selected Films at Loyalist: Indigenous Resources

Indigenous-Themed Video Collections from Curio (CBC)

Streamed Video Collections at Loyalist College

Indigenous Studies: Streamed Video Collections

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