North York Central Library Blog

As part of North York Central Library’s Aboriginal History Month programming this June, we will be hosting award-winning documentary filmmaker and activist Alanis Obomsawin and showcasing her new film The People of Kattawapiskak River.   This is an incredible opportunity to meet one of the most vocal and engaging activists for Canada’s native community, as well as one of Canada’s most distinguished filmmakers.  This screening, taking place on Monday June 17^th starting at 6:15 pm in the Auditorium, will feature Ms. Obomsawin providing context for her film as well as answering questions from the audience. 

Attawapiskat made headlines and drew national attention in 2011 when Chief Theresa Spence declared a state of emergency over housing and living conditions. A lot has been said about Attawapiskat since then and the third-world conditions of the reserve have caused a lot of people to enter the dialogue.  Alanis Obomsawin's film provides much needed perspectives on the situation among Canada's First Nations communities.  Ms. Obomsawin brings us the voices of the people of Kattawapiskak River themselves and raises the curtain on the everyday drama of life in the north.

For further information about the reception of The People of Kattawapiskak River, Lisa Charleyboy has written an article about its showcase at the 2012 ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival held in Toronto.  CBC news also has a very moving image gallery taken during the 2011 crisis in Attawapiskat that will give you a sense of the living conditions and prepare you for Ms. Obomsawin’s film.

A number of Ms. Obomsawin's documentaries are available to borrow through Toronto Public Library.  A good place to start for an introduction to her work is Alanis Obomsawin: The Collection which includes 4 of her more famous documentaries including Kanehsatake: 270 years of resistance.  This film documents the famous Oka standoff beginning in July 1990.  Ms. Obomsawin “spent 78 nerve-wracking days and nights filming the armed stand-off between the Mohawks, the Quebec police and the Canadian army. This powerful documentary takes you right into the action of an age-old Aboriginal struggle. The result is a portrait of the people behind the barricades.” (National Film Board of Canada, http://www.nfb.ca/film/kanehsatake_270_years_of_resistance/). 

If you are interested in getting a better sense of Ms. Obomsawin’s immense talent as a filmmaker check out Randolph Lewis’ book  Alanis Obomsawin: the vision of a native filmmaker where he celebrates her as a ‘the central figure in the development of indigenous media in North America.’ To view some of her films online, free of charge, visit the National Film Board of Canada’s website.

The Native People Collection, located in the Society and Recreation department (3^rd floor) of the North York Central Library has periodicals, fiction, CDs and an extensive non-fiction collection of works relating to Native Studies.  Stop by and browse the collection or ask at the information desk on the 3^rd floor for more information.   Below are some suggested, recent works from that collection.

There are many other Aboriginal Celebrations taking place this June throughout Toronto Public Library that you may be interested in attending.  Be sure to visit the webpage linked above for more information.

We look forward to seeing you at the screening!