1 REEL CANADA Uniting our Nations through Film WHO WE ARE 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 over a million students – and it just keeps growing! WHAT WE DO LESSON PLANS AND Now entering our 16th season, we offer several programmes for students. And, through National RESOURCES Canadian Film Day (NCFD), we also bring an annual With a track record of thousands of successful school celebration of film to all Canadians. screenings, we can give you effective tools to get your colleagues and students excited about your Our Educational Programmes serve anywhere from event, and work with you to create a festival that will a single class to a whole school. They all incorporate resonate with your community. incredible work made by Indigenous filmmakers, and all of them are absolutely free of charge. We offer: • Film-specific lesson plans orf all feature-length Our Films in Our Schools: for more than 14 years, films in this programme we have helped teachers and students organize over 3,000 screenings of Canadian films • Lesson plans for Indigenous and Native studies courses Welcome to Canada: introducing new Canadians to Canadian film and culture through festival events • Lesson plans about Canadian film and torytellings designed specifically for English-language learners of for grades 9 to 12 English and media courses all ages • Games, quizzes and other resources to help teachers bring this important part of Canadian Indigenous Film Programme: primarily for high culture to their students schools*, this programme focuses on films made by Indigenous artists RCtv: an interactive, live webcast, and our biggest NATIONAL offering for schools on NCFD CANADIAN FILM DAY National Canadian Film Day (NCFD) is an annual *If you teach elementary or middle school, most of the films one-day event where Canadians from coast-to-coast- in this catalogue may be too mature for your students. We do to-coast get together to watch a great Canadian film – have a limited selection of short films that are appropriate for younger viewers, so email us to find out more. across all major platforms, online and in theatres. Email [email protected] or call 1-855-733-5709 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, Heiltsuk, Mohawk Blackfoot, Kanien’kehaka, Tsilhqot’in and Haida. • We can help you access these films whether your students are in the classroom, learning from home, or a combination of the two. • 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. Benefits For Non-Indigenous Students WHY AN INDIGENOUS FILM Presenting Indigenous films in schools helps dispel myths and stereotypes by providing a more inclusive history of PROGRAMME? Canada, and also promotes better understanding and sensitivity to contemporary Indigenous experiences. Indigenous stories on film have often been told by non-Indigenous filmmakers, sometimes even with non- “I may not be Indigenous but I now understand Indigenous actors portraying Indigenous characters. that I have a role to play in changing how we as a This has resulted in a stifling of Indigenous voice and collective society view Canada’s history.” has contributed to stereotypical misrepresentations — Grade 11 student, Golden SS, Golden B.C. of Indigenous people in film and television. The presentation of films made by Indigenous artists in Benefits For Mixed Audiences schools provides opportunities for dialogue, education Movies from the Indigenous Film Programme can be and cultural exchange. both a mirror and a window as they reflect Indigenous experiences while also providing an opening for Benefits For Indigenous Students cross-cultural exchange and greater understanding. Research shows — and our audiences confirm — Presentation of Indigenous films can help your school that seeing oneself on film can be a profound and address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s transformative experience. When Indigenous stories are imperative to explore “Aboriginal peoples’ historical told by Indigenous filmmakers, the result is authentic, and contemporary contributions to Canada” (Truth and self-determined cultural expression. When First Nation, Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, Inuit and Métis students witness a true reflection of Section 62.i). their lives and experiences, the effect is empowering and “Education is the key to reconciliation, but only inspirational. a true and complete experience in education can “Watching a film about native women makes me pave the path to relationships built on mutual happy because I could relate to the things they said, respect and peaceful co-existence.” did and thought.” — National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, — Grade 12 student, W.F. Herman SS, Windsor, ON University of Manitoba 2 INTRODUCTION FROM ARIEL SMITH tānsi! I am thrilled and privileged to join the REEL CANADA team as Manager of the Indigenous Film Programme. 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. Ariel Smith (nēhiyaw) Within commercial film and television production in Canada, Indigenous peoples have Manager of the long been underrepresented as makers and misrepresented as subjects. REEL CANADA Indigenous Film Programme, 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. 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 Jack Blum, Executive Director amongst young learners. The Indigenous Film Programme is a valuable resource for Sharon Corder, Artistic Director educators, students and community members across the country. REEL CANADA 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, INDIGENOUS FILM PROGRAMME specifically through focused initiatives such as the Indigenous Film Programme. This ADVISORY COMMITTEE programme and its accompanying catalogue serve as an opportunity to spotlight Tantoo Cardinal and celebrate the wealth of incredible work being made by Indigenous filmmakers in Danis Goulet Canada today. Ronnie Dean Harris I greatly look forward to helping you bring this exciting initiative into your school, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs and warmly invite you to join us as we celebrate and honour Indigenous voices in the Jennifer Podemski classroom. Dr. Duke Redbird Kinanâskomitin, Jason Ryle Amanda Strong Janelle Wookey Ariel Smith (nēhiyaw) Manager of the Indigenous Film Programme, REEL CANADA REGISTERED CHARITABLE # 8508 92 36 5 RR0001 [email protected] • www.reelcanada.ca • 720 Bathurst Street, Suite 504, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2R4 • 416-642-5796 • 1-855-733-5709 • Fax: 647-557-2111 3 THE REVIEWS ARE IN! “Our students and staff cannot stop talking about this awesome experience.” — 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.” — Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis), filmmaker “This is eye-opening and critical and everyone should have the chance to have a programme like this.” — Gr. 10 student, Maniwaki Woodland School, Maniwaki, QC “I had a blast and the staff is professional and there to give back to the world. I enjoyed being part of something so meaningful. Big thanks to all involved.” — Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk), 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