Kamx'id

Created by Jeremy Wamiss
A magical animation that celebrates the carver.

Port Hardy - 2015 - 1:42

Ixantsila Ceremony (Coming of Age)

Created by Thelma Robertson-George
A wonderful film that celebrates an important “Nakwaxda’xw ceremony for young girls as they move into adulthood!

Port Hardy - 2015 - 4:23

'Yaxgan 'Nuyam

Created by Roberta Williams
Although this film educates the viewer about the shameful Potlatch Ban of 1884-1950 it also manages to look toward the future with positivity.

Port Hardy - 2015 - 4:23

Keeping Our Culture Alive

Created by Kelly Anderson
Tsulquate, a remote water side reserve has hope for a Big House to be built. An uplifting film celebrating the ability to practice culture on your own terms within your own community. 

Port Hardy - 2015 - 4:08

The Survivor

Created by Alex Heuman
Cutting edge documentary that incorporates animation to tell the hard realities of a residential school survivor and father of the filmmaker.

Port Hardy - 2015 - 5:15

Port Hardy - Day 5

Another frosty morning!

Our motto for the day!

Tommy and Walter sing and drum with little Andrew 

They sing the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw
Ladies Song for Thelma's film. Kelly helps record.

Roberta and Odessa edit!

Jeremy actually finished his animation TODAY!

Principal Jillian and Teacher Leah check out Thelma's latest edit (While Emma and Kelly ham it up)

What is not pictured here is Haley & Bree-Anna  and Alex working hard on their edits and Kelly working on her script.

A great day!

Port Hardy - Day 4

A sparkling frozen morning in Port Hardy.

The workshop ran from 9am to noon today in order to attend a service to celebrate the life of a community member who passed away.

A dust of frost, like sugar on a donut

The building  site for the  NEW Eke Me-Xi school building!

Our workshop digs.

Mentor, Odessa, gives camera tips to Thelma as she interviews her sister Kali and her cousin Shandy.

Thelma as director!

Haley interviews her grandad Paddy with a little help from mentor Sebnem

Bright clear sunshine and cold bite in the air

Alex works on his puppets for his animated scenes

Mentor, Tracy, and Alex find time to joke as they work!

Roberta also recorded her voice over with a little moral support from Kelly and Laura

Port Hardy - Day 3

This part of the world is so beautiful! Here is the morning commute to the workshop:

The entrance to Tsulquate Reserve

We were so busy today - we didn't update our todo list and barely had time for photographs!

Haley and Annie watch the NFB film Blunden Harbour and get to see footage of the Homelands and their families for the first time

Haley and Annie edited their 40 minute interview of Grandpa TK down to 5 minutes AND added some B-roll of Annie's Grandfather Tommy from before he was taken from his home in Blunden Harbour by the RCMP when he was only 5 years old.

Alex is hard at work from first thing this morning!

 Alex edited his interview of his father down by at least 30%! AND he chose and added a song by his cousin Tristan for the soundtrack. Alex also planned out his animation with mentor, Tracy.

The views from our workshop home base are incredible!

Who has a view like THIS from their work place?

Jeremy came later in the day and created new scenes for his animation that includes animated Kwakwaka'wakw words for "Drum stick" and "Drummer" !

Kelly runs camera from the Big House in Fort Rupert - a 12 minute drive from Port Hardy

Thelma and Kelly have a moment in the Big House!

Kelly, Thelma and Roberta went first thing to the Big House in Fort Rupert today to film. First came the elementary school students from Wagalus School who gave permission to be filmed for Kelly's film! Then came Thelma and Roberta dancing for Roberta's film. Big thanks to mentor Odessa for driving the students there, teacher Leah for organizing and Ross and Jordan for singing and drumming!

Besides helping Roberta, Thelma also organized her video from her Auntie, planned for her next interviews and prepped her voice over.

Phew, a great day.

Port Hardy - Day 2

Another gorgeous day on Tsulquate Reserve!

Hard to believe it is only day two! This group worked very hard and have real visions for their films!

The adult education building is our official workshop location - right beside Eke-Me-Xi school

Mentor Lisa g loves to talk about framing and the 'Camera's Eye'

Alex works on finding some imagery of St Michael's Residential School with mentor, Sebnem

Alex is working on a film based around his father's experiences in Residential School. Alex conducted a 40 minute interview on location today as well as collected media ! Great work!

Roberta goes through archival material with student liaison, Richard

Roberta is exploring the Potlatch Ban and how it affected the culture of her people. She hopes to educate viewers as well as providing hope for future generations in reclaiming the culture that was not lost - no matter how hard Duncan Campbell Scott tried.

Jeremy sits by his animation station

Jeremy is experimenting with a stop motion animation documenting the carving of a drum stick. Jeremy is a painter and carver and is creating a film that celebrates his love of art.

Haley and 'Annie' work on their interview questions.

 Haley and Bree-Anna wanted to interview their Grandads about their individual experiences at Residential School. Today they interviewed Bree-Anna's Grandad, Tommy, captured the footage and started their rough assembly of his answers. A lot of work!

"Annie" practices the questions

Haley captures the footage

Fast learning on the Final Cut 7 program

The filmmakers discover that the left arrow key makes the sound play backwards

Thelma works on the voice over for her film. (Kelly and Jeremy in the background)

 Thelma is making a film about the Coming of Age Ceremony for girls transitioning into women. She hopes to teach viewers about this wonderful ceremony and interviewed her sister and her cousin today, as well as created her voice over!

A beautiful location for an interview!

Thelma is the sound person and Kelly helps with camera

Kelly is working on a film about her own personal connection to her culture. She wrote her voice over, scheduled a Big House shoot for Wednesday and  an Elementary School dance shoot for Friday. She also generously helped Thelma on her film.

Thanks Kelly!

Even as we work, there is time for some fun. Kelly and Haley!!!

Port Hardy - Day 1

An exciting first day!

Returning filmmakers Alex, Kelly and Roberta rejoin the Our World workshop - welcome back!

New filmmakers Bree-Anna, Haley, Jeremy and Thelma join the group and everyone comes with ideas! We are also joined by Ross Hunt who is our cultural/student liaison.

Out the window of our Eke-Me-Xi school digs

Young filmmakers and mentors watch previous Our World films and critique them

Mentor, Tracy, talks about animation tricks as new OW mentor Odessa looks on

Returning filmmaker, Roberta, does some research for her latest film

Haley and Bree-Anna even capture some b-roll with some help from Odessa!

Sebnem teaches some camera/shooting techniques

Alex, Tracy and Ross listen...

Kelly on camera, Roberta asks questions and Haley on sound. Great practice in an interview scenario!

Kelly interviews Bree-Anna