Prakash Krishnan, Concordia University
- Part 1 - Introduction
- Part 2 - Eastern Quebec (Innu)
- Part 3 - Western Quebec (Atikamekw, Cree, Algonquin)
- Part 4 - Inuit Nunangat (Inuit Homeland – Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, Inuvialuit)
- Part 5 - Ontario (Ojibway, Iroquois, Seneca, Cree)
- Part 6 - Northwest Territories (Tłı̨chǫ (Tlicho), Sahtu, Métis, Dene)
- Part 7 - Alberta (Stoney-Nakoda, Siksika/Blackfoot, Dene, Cree-Métis)
- Part 8 - British Columbia (Kootenay, Dakelh, Nuxalkmc, Nisga’a, Tsimshian, Secwepemc, Coast Salish, Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, Haida Gwaii (Haida))
- Part 9 - Films by Indigenous Filmmakers and Non-CESIF Films Relevant for Researchers
Part 3 - Western Quebec (Atikamekw, Cree, Algonquin)
Le Canot d’Écorce
(1946, French, English, Sound, Colour, 16mm, 11 mins)
Accession Number: 1946.0046
Producer: Associated Screen News
Distributor: Service de ciné-photographie de la province de Québec
Holding Institutions: Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Centre d'archives de Québec (16mm)
Description: The film illustrates the steps taken by Atikamekw living in the Haute-Maurice region in Quebec to fashion traditional canoes from bark.
Commentary: This film is one of many that seeks to capture through an ethnographic lens Indigenous peoples’ hunting and other livelihood practices in an attempt to preserve or historicize the still-living culture.
Bibliography:
Gouvernement du Québec: Ministère des Communications, Direction générale du cinéma et de l’audiovisuel, Catalogue des films d’archives, volume 1 (Québec: Éditeur officiel du Québec, 1976), 34.
Service de ciné-photographie de la province de Québec, Films 16mm: édition 1956-57 (Quebec City: Service de ciné-photographie, 1956): 193.
CESIF Link: Le Canot d’Écorce
Indiens de la Mauricie
(1936, French, Silent, Black and White, 16mm, 12 mins)
Accession Number: 1936.0016
Producer: Albert Tessier
Holding Institutions: Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Québec (16mm, DVD); Bibliothèque du Cégep de Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières (VHS); Cinémathèque québécoise, Montréal (DVD)
Description: The film follows Father Guinard, a missionary visiting and observing the lives of various Indigenous communities (Atikamekw) in the Haute-Mauricie region in Quebec.
Commentary: As the film centres on the observations of a Christian missionary, it is important to consider the perspective with which the film is produced and how religion and forced religious education has been used to forcibly assimilate Indigenous peoples into the colonial society.
CESIF Link: Indiens de la Mauricie
Les Indiens du Haut Saint-Maurice
(1959, French, Sound, Colour, 16mm, 34 mins)
Accession Number: 1959.0058
Producers: Service de ciné-photographie de la province de Québec; Guernand Films
Distributor: Service de ciné-photographie de la province de Québec
Holding Institutions: Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Centre d'archives de Québec, Québec (16mm, Betacam, DVD).
Description: The film features Atikamekw communities living in the Haute-Mauricie region in Quebec. It puts into contrast their traditional cultures and beliefs with those of white society.
Commentary: The film showcases various scenes from Atikamekw communities from an ethnographic gaze and that compares Indigenous ways of life directly with those of white society – often this problematic framing of societal comparisons is used to argue that Indigenous communities require controlling and oversight from “progressive”/”modern” society and government.
Bibliography:
Gouvernement du Québec: Ministère des Communications, Direction générale du cinéma et de l’audiovisuel, Catalogue des films d’archives, volume 2 (Québec: Éditeur officiel du Québec, 1978), 28.
Office du film du Québec, Catalogue général des films 16mm (Quebec City: Office du film du Québec, 1964), 340.
CESIF Link: Les Indiens du Haut Saint-Maurice
The Beaver Makes a Comeback
(1953, English, Sound, Colour, 16mm, 16 mins)
Accession Number: 1953.0023
Producers: Stephen Greenlees; Stephen Greenlees Films
Distributor: National Film Board of Canada : Office national du film du Canada
Holding Institutions: Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (16mm, VHS); University of Alberta, Edmonton (16mm); University of Guelph, Guelph (16mm); Queen's University, Kingston (16mm)
Description: The film observes the implementation of a government-sponsored beaver conservation plan on behalf of trappers from the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi. The film puts into contrast the plight of the community during the near-extinction of the beaver population with their living conditions post-conservation. The film includes scenes of beaver conservation techniques and beaver trapping; a government fur trader dealing with the community; the town of Amos; Cree families shopping and cooking; operation of a new sawmill; and the building of new houses.
Commentary: The film highlights the government’s role in so-called wildlife preservation efforts but does not explain the cause of the near-extinction of the beaver population. It places the Waswanipi Cree community at the receiving end of government aid and emphases the assumed reliance on governmental support.
Bibliography:
Canadian Tourist Association, Conservation Films (1954): 2.
CESIF Link: The Beaver Makes a Comeback
La Peau d'orignal
(1946, French, English, Sound, Colour, 16mm, 18 min)
Accession Number: 1946.0053
Producer: Service de ciné-photographie de la province de Québec
Distributor: Service de ciné-photographie de la province de Québec
Holding Institutions: Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, Centre d'archives de Québec, Québec (16mm, DVD)
Alternate Title: Moose Skin
Description: The film demonstrates various uses of moose hide by the Anicinape de Kitcisakik community (Algonquin) including the crafting of snowshoes, gloves, and moccasins.
Commentary: This film is likely one of many that seeks to capture through an ethnographic lens Indigenous peoples’ hunting and other livelihood practices in an attempt to preserve or historicize the still-living culture.
Bibliography:
Service de ciné-photographie de la province de Québec, Films 16mm: édition 1956-57 (Quebec City: Service de ciné-photographie, 1956), 314.
Gouvernement du Québec: Ministère des Communications, Direction générale du cinéma et de l’audiovisuel, Catalogue des films d’archives, volume 2 (Québec: Éditeur officiel du Québec, 1978), 13-14.
Service de ciné-photographie de la province de Québec, Films 16mm: édition 1947 (Quebec City: Service de ciné-photographie, 1947), 254.
CESIF Link: La Peau d'orignal