The Assu family, members of the We Wai Kai band in Cape Mudge, BC, discuss the importance of their family roots and culture.
This film takes a look at the opening of the U'mista Cultural Centre, a world-class museum in Alert Bay, British Columbia built by the Kwakwaka'wakw people.
The Gwa'sala and 'Nakwaxda'xw First Nations people lived as two distinct groups along Canada's northwest coast. How A People Live traces their history, from traditions documented by Franz Boas and Edward Sheriff Curtis, the Indian Residential School experience and a forced relocation from traditional territories in 1964, to return visits to their homelands that ignited the healing process and aroused interest in rich cultural traditions.
I'TUSTO is the Kwakwaka'wakw word for "to rise again". 'Namgis filmmaker Barb Cranmer worked alongside members of her community and has documented their tremendous efforts as they rallied over the next 21 months to rebuild the big house.
The village of Alert Bay on the coast of British Columbia is the present spiritual and cultural centre of the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) people. A small group travels to the hereditary oolichan fishing grounds to catch the fish and render it to oolichan grease (kleena). This film is about the social, historical, and economic importance of oolichan to the Kwakwaka'wakw.
This film is a testimony to the work of artist Mungo Martin, as well as a short biography of a man who was influential in restoring and reviving Northwest Coast art and culture.
People from the Kwakwa'kawakw's 'NAMGIS First Nation take a canoe trip through their traditional territory on Vancouver Island. They reflect on their connection to the land-- the core of their lifeblood and culture, and on their intent to negotiate a modern-day Treaty with the government of British Columbia and the government of Canada.
POTLATCH...a strict law bids us dance looks at the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations and the history of the potlatch.
Kwakwaka'wakw director Barb Cranmer has created two short films that recreate the experience of the modern-day potlatch, still praticed in her community of Alert Bay, British Columbia.
People from the Kwakwa'kawakw's 'NAMGIS First Nation take a canoe trip through their traditional territory on Vancouver Island. They reflect on their connection to the land-- the core of their lifeblood and culture, and on their intent to negotiate a modern-day Treaty with the government of British Columbia and the government of Canada.