Westwood Truth, Healing and Reconciliation Resources

We Were Children: (1hr 22min)

“In this feature film, the profound impact of the Canadian government’s residential school system is conveyed through the eyes of two children who were forced to face hardships beyond their years. As young children, Lyna and Glen were taken from their homes and placed in church-run boarding schools, where they suffered years of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, the effects of which persist in their adult lives. We Were Children gives voice to a national tragedy and demonstrates the incredible resilience of the human spirit.”

You can borrow the film from the Edmonton Public Library or you can rent the film from the NFB website.(Very low cost)

I’m Not the Indian You Had in Mind (5:28): Thomas King’s video  National Screen Institute’s website – no charge

A video exploration offering insight as to how First Nations people today are changing old ideas and empowering themselves in the greater community

~ A great ‘quick study’ in stereotypes ~

CBC’s 8^th Fire

Hosted by Wab Kinew, CBC’s “8TH FIRE is a provocative, high-energy journey through Aboriginal country showing you why we need to fix Canada’s 500 year-old relationship with Indigenous peoples; a relationship mired in colonialism, conflict and denial.”

Watch all 4 episodes free on-line.

1.  Indigenous in the City
2.  It’s Time!
3. Who’s Land Is It Anyway?
4. At A Crossroads

YouTube:

Part 1: Culture and Ancestry (6:35 minutes)

“In this interview, Chief Joseph discusses his childhood memories of Kwakwaka’wakw culture and explains why understanding the context of culture and ancestry is critical in the present day.”^[1] (Pronunciation:  Kwak-wak-ya-wak)

Part 2: Residential School (3:15 minutes)

In the next video:  Chief Robert Joseph describes his experience at St. Michael’s Indian Residential School and how the trauma of the residential school system affected him as a young man.

The Language of Reconciliation Video (4:11 minutes) Here’s the context for this video:

“A Shared Tomorrow:

We are Elders from Aboriginal and other ancient histories who care about Canadians and answered a call to action in November 2012. For two days, we gathered on the traditional territories of the Musqueam People to explore how Reconciliation, as a way of being, can help our society move forward. To that end we have made a video to explain who we are and invite you to join us on this path.”

CBC Radio Documentary: Highway of Tears

NFB Film Archive:

  200+ Films by Indigenous Directors Now Free to View Online: A New Archive Launched by the National Film Board of Canada