How are west coast Indigenous communities responding to the challenges to their waters?
United By Water
Canadian Premiere | USA | 2017 | 60 min
Feather from Fish Lake
Toronto Premiere | CANADA | 2017 | 7.5 min
Kwadacha by the River
World Premiere | CANADA | 2017 | 18.5 min
Emcee: Dr. Stephen Scharper,
Associate Professor, U of T
United By Water
Canadian Premiere | USA | 2017 | 60 min
Filmmaker: Derrick LaMere
“You can flood the path, but we’ll always find our way back.” The 5 tribes (Colville Confederated Tribes, Couer D'Alene, Kalispel, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Spokane) of the Upper Columbia River unite on the water in traditional canoes for the first time since the Grand Coulee Dam flooded their traditional waterways 76 years ago.
Feather from Fish Lake
Toronto Premiere | CANADA | 2017 | 7.5 min
Filmmaker: Jeremy Williams
Fish Lake is in the headwaters of the Chilcotin River watershed, a major tributary of the Fraser River. The lake is home to 85,000 rainbow trout, and provides clean water for drinking, irrigation, and millions of salmon, which support a thriving ecosystem and economy.
Despite the objections of the Tsilhqot’in Nation and two federal rejections, Taseko Mines Ltd. continues to try and advance its “New” Prosperity Mine proposal. The company is now proposing to begin extensive road building, drilling, test pits, and seismic line testing, and build a 50-man camp, to advance and prepare for the construction of the rejected mine. In response to the proposed disturbance, Tsilhqot’in leaders held a water ceremony at Teztan Biny, where an eagle feather was blessed before travelling downstream with water gathered from the lake. The feather and water were sent from Teztan Biny, down the Fraser River to Christy Clark in Victoria. The mine has been rejected twice over its negative impacts to Tsilhqot’in culture and risks to this headwater ecosystem. The integrity of Canada’s environmental assessment process is at stake.
Kwadacha by the River
World Premiere | CANADA | 2017 | 18.5 min
Filmmakers: Dave Shortt, Jessica Hallenbeck, Mitchell McCook
In the late 1960s, the Kwadacha First Nation were flooded out of their Northern BC territory by the W.A.C. Bennett Dam - one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world. Without warning, hundreds of cemeteries and village sites were destroyed. Thousands of animals drowned, causing near-starvation in the community. Many people too have drowned; in waters rendered dangerous and unnavigable. Ironically, Kwadacha does not benefit from the dam -- relying instead on a diesel generator so costly, that many cannot afford electricity.
With neighbouring communities at risk from the construction of a new dam, it’s time for Kwadacha to tell their story.
