Stories of Decolonization Film Project (Film 1)

Abstract

Stories of Decolonization: Land Dispossession and Settlement

Stories of Decolonization is a multilingual, multi-film, interview-based documentary project created by a collaborative group of filmmakers with the aim of providing the public with a basic and accessible understanding of colonization and its continued impacts on everyday Canadian experiences. The film project is intended to fuel the motivation of Canadians to work toward decolonization, with an emphasis on the need for settlers (non-Indigenous peoples) to engage with this work. The interviewees are a diverse group (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) of local and national people who have come to understand themselves in relation to colonization and have engaged in decolonization work. ​Sharing heart-level stories personalizes history for viewers, which can help fuel motivation to work towards decolonization in their own contexts. This supports the work Indigenous people already do and invites non-Indigenous people to act and relate with integrity, working towards a just society. This project responds to the TRC Calls to Action #62 and #63 around curriculum about Indigenous peoples, Treaties, Indigenous knowledges, and intercultural empathy and understanding.

In this first film of the project, personal stories are woven into key insights regarding land dispossession and settlement, which have been instrumental to the colonization processes of Canada. These dimensions of colonization are highlighted as significant for decolonization and reconciliation work. This film is 27 minutes in length, and has French, Anishinaabemowin, and Cree subtitle versions. It targets audiences ages 16 and up. The film is accompanied by a curriculum guide (authored by Tasha Spillett), which outlines discussion questions and curricular activities that give film viewers more time and space to allow the main messages of the film to be considered in deeper ways, to engage a reflection process that makes connections between themes of film and their personal lives, and to create space to develop steps for further reflection and action. The curricular guide is available in English and French, with graphic design (PDF) and plain text editable file (.docx) options.