ATHABASCA — Athabasca University’s (AU) Nukskahtowin, or meeting place, has revived an educational series aimed at shedding light on Indigenous issues, stories, and history through shared conversation and traditional snacks five years after halting showings thanks to COVID-19.
The Bannock and a Movie initiative was first started by the university in 2005, and showcased films and documentaries made from Indigenous perspectives on topics like the Swan Hills waste treatment centre, the treatment of Indigenous war veterans in Canada, and the story of a Mayan uprising in the mid-1990s.
Twenty years later, the series is staying true to its roots; with two films shown since the new year. Bannock and a Movie organizer Ivy Lalonde said the purpose of the initiative is to create conversations around Indigeneity right on Treaty 6 land.
“Prior to the pandemic, we offered it in Edmonton and at times, in Athabasca,” Lalonde wrote in an email. “By bringing it back to Athabasca, we provide an opportunity for community engagement and building community relationships.”
For the first film, showcased over two parts in February, Lalonde selected WaaPaKe, or Tomorrow in Cree. The documentary contains first-hand accounts from generations of Canadian families impacted by the trauma of residential schools, including director Jules Arita Koostachin’s own kin.
In it, three generations of Koostachin’s family, from her mother who attended residential school herself, her son, who still feels the ripples of pain that come from being separated from his culture, and the director herself, unpack how the recent history of forced assimilation has shaped their lives, and their unique journeys to heal generational wounds.
The second film, shown March 20, is an educational piece featuring conversations between Cree elders George Brertton, William Dreaver, Isaac Chamakese and Fred Campiou on the concept of Wahkohtowin.
Wahkohtowin, the name of the film, translates to “everything is related,” and is a fundamental facet of Cree Natural Law. In the film, the elders juxtapose the concepts in Wahkohtowin with those contained in Canadian law, and highlight principles that would allow us to exist harmoniously with our environment and the other beings that share it.
To encourage as many interested locals as possible, the showings are free and held in the AU’s newly refurbished governing council chambers. And as the name promises, guests can help themselves to complimentary coffee, tea, and homemade Bannock.
But more than a show and a snack, Lalonde said the revitalized series is a way to spark honest, authentic connections and communication around tough topics. After the film, attendees are welcomed to share their thoughts and perspectives with the group at large, guided by questions from Lalonde.
“People who have a question can engage with their peers in a safe learning environment,” wrote Lalonde. “We encourage open discussions as they provide a platform for sharing perspectives, learning from each other, and increasing Indigenous awareness. They are an integral part of our initiative.”
While film may contain sensitive subject matter at times, Lalonde said the Bannock and a Movie showings are crafted with everyone in mind, and encourages locals of all ages and backgrounds to sign up and learn something new.
“We hope to build community relationships by bringing an awareness of Indigenous issues forward and to open the opportunity to create dialogues about the documentaries viewed, wrote Lalonde. “We hope that all Athabasca community members feel welcome to attend.”
The Bannock and a Movie series will run monthly until the end of June as part of a pilot project, with tentative plans to bring the initiative back year-round. For more information on upcoming films and dates, contact Ivy Lalonde at [email protected].
