The Artist as Nation Builder: 10 Short Films by Contemporary Indigenous Filmmakers

Thursday, April 6, 2023 at 7 pm at the Longmont Museum

 

Overview of Program:

Experience the diversity of Indigenous film being made today in this evening of short films by contemporary Indigenous filmmakers as selected by the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management. 

Indigenous filmmakers play many roles. They provide avenues for elders, cultural experts and others to share their stories and are artists and storytellers in their own right. Indigenous filmmakers pass along traditional stories, help preserve indigenous languages, shed light on little known stories of the past, defy stereotypes, and expose the challenges of indigenous peoples in contemporary society. In short, these filmmakers are Nation Builders.

Join us for an evening of film and discussion, and learn to see indigenous film and art through the lens of Nation Building.

10 Short Films by Contemporary Indigenous Filmmakers
Screening followed by Q&A. with artist Gregg Deal (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe) and  Mervyn Tano, President, IIIRM

$10 General Admission / $8 Students & Seniors / $5 Museum Members

Synopses of the 10 shorts

(in order of presentation)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. The Amendment
Canada, documentary, 2007, 4 minutes
Director Kevin Papatie (Algonquin).

This experimental documentary explores the boarding school experience and its impact on language in the northern Quebec First Nations community of Kitcisakik. (Producer Wapikoni Mobile).

 

 

 

 

2. The Rabbit’s Tail
USA, claymation, 2003, 8 min 
Produced by the American Indian Resource Center Tahlequah. Morris, Oklahoma. 
In Muscogee language with English subtitles.

The Rabbit’s Tail is a claymation rendition of a traditional tribal story about how Rabbit lost his tail. The film, made by Muscogee Creek students Brandee Beaver Marcus Duvall, Natalie Roberts, Darren Rock, and Kryston Salsman.

 

3. The Story of Priest Point
USA, Animation, 2010, 2 min
Directed by students of Tulalip Heritage School.
Narrated in Lushootseed, the region’s indigenous language, with English subtitles.

Killer whales rescue the residents of Priest Point from starvation in this animated version of a traditional Tulalip story.   (Longhouse Media).

4. Little Thunder
Canada, animation, 2009, 3 min
Directors Nance Ackerman, Alan Syliboy (Mi’kmaq).

In this animated short, inspired by the Mi’kmaq legend “The Stone Canoe,” we follow Little Thunder as he reluctantly leaves his family and sets out on a cross-country canoe trip to become a man. (National Film Board of Canada in collaboration with APTN Vistas Series.  

 

5. Walk-in-the-Forest

Canada, animation, 2009, 3 min
Director Diane Obomsawin.

This animation follows medicine man on a walk in the woods that reveals an intriguing secret world. (National Film Board of Canada in collaboration with APTN Vistas Series. 

6. Button Blanket

Canada, documentary, 2009, 4 min
Director Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk).

This impressionist documentary presents a stunning montage of moving images, integrating the creation of a button blanket, the performance of a traditional dance and the art of the Heiltsuk people of the West Coast of Canada. (National Film Board of Canada in collaboration with APTN Vistas Series,

 

 

7. Boxed In
Canada, documentary, 2009, 4 min
Director Shane Belcourt (Métis).

A young woman of mixed ancestry struggles with an Equal Opportunity Form that requires her to respond to the dilemma: Ethnicity – Choose One. (National Film Board of Canada in collaboration with APTN Vistas series,

 

 

8. Grandfather on the Prairies

USA, Animation, Short, Comedy, 2018, 4 min
Director Andrew Genaille (Upper River Salish and Anishnaabe)

This film explores the difficulties of belonging to two tribes. The Anishnaabe ancestor (his father’s side) does not see the young man’s skill as a fisherman (his mother’s tradition). The ancestor only knows that by Anishnaabe standards, this grandson of his grandson simply is not a hunter. (Sir Perphoulous Films Inc.).

9. Svonni vs the Swedish Tax Agency

Sweden, 2020, 5 min
In Swedish, with English subtitles.
Director Maria Fredriksson (Swedish of Sami Descent).

A Sámi woman tries to convince the Swedish Tax Agency she has a legitimate tax deduction for the purchase of a dog, while the Swedish authority refuses to accept that Rikke is a herding tool and not a pet. An illustration of cultural clashes and the struggle to practice Sámi culture in today’s Sweden. (Ballad Film)

 

10. Traditional Healing

Canada, animation, 2014, 2 min.
Director Raymond Caplin (Mi’gmaq).

Using dance as metaphor, this animation shows us the beauty of the world when the culture is strong. (Producer, Wapikoni Mobile.

Discussion / Q&A 

Following the films, there will be a discussion and /Q&A with artist Gregg Deal (Pyramid Lake Paiute),and Mervyn Tano, President, IIIRM.

$10 General Admission / $8 Students & Seniors / $5 Museum Members

Buy Tickets Online, or call 303-651-8374.

Other Museum Events and Performances

The Longmont Museum offers variety for all audiences, including exhibits, concerts, performances, films, talks and classes.

• See other Longmont Museum Presents performances, and Climate Action Sundays.
• View our current exhibit,  Duality: Contemporary Works by Indigenous Artists
• Come to Thursday Nights at the Museum – we’re open until 9pm, with a 7 PM talk, film or performance
• Take an Art & Sip class for adults, on Thursday Night at 6:30 PM, 
• or attend a Friday Afternoon Concert at 2:30 PM on the second Friday of each month.