30ish siblings Michael, Ellie, and James drive to their family cabin to visit their parents Jonathan and Maddie. But when their mom and dad unexpectedly announce their divorce, chaos ensues.
In a time of immense environmental degradation and global uncertainty, the buffalo can lead us to a better tomorrow. After a dark recent history, the buffalo herds of North America are awaiting their return, aided by dedicated Indigenous activists, leaders and communities, including award-winning Cree filmmaker Tasha Hubbard (nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up). Together with Blackfoot Elder Leroy Little Bear, Hubbard weaves an intimate story of humanity’s connections to buffalo and eloquently reveals how their return to the Great Plains can indeed usher in a new era of sustainability and balance. On her journey, Hubbard explores the challenges faced by buffalo allies and shares the positive steps already taken towards the ultimate – but uncertain – goal of buffalo rematriation. Richly visualised and deeply uplifting, SINGING BACK THE BUFFALO is an epic reimagining of North America through the lens of buffalo consciousness and a potent dream of what is within our grasp.
They say that all’s fair in love and war - I don’t know if all that’s true, but you’re sure to find a little humor throughout both love and war. Sometimes, laughter really does give us the best therapy.
These two documentaries chronicle land based teachings from Indigenous communities and how they're carried forward. Read more about each film below:
"Decolonizing Our Youth": How can we rethink our Education system? Can we trade cinderblock square classrooms for the open skies and river valleys of our ancestors? Join our land based classroom to meet various Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Elders that will share the importance of the traditional land, culture, and the language here on amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Beaver Hills House), also known as Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Are you ready to decolonize your learning and come be a student with us?
"Life in the Land": Iikooshtaka’atbaatchaache, home of the Mighty Few. Through grassroots efforts, the Mighty Few are guiding actions that create necessary healing, economic opportunities, and self-determination to thrive into the future. For more information visit info@storiesforaction.org
"Decolonizing Our Youth": How can we rethink our Education system? Can we trade cinderblock square classrooms for the open skies and river valleys of our ancestors? Join our land based classroom to meet various Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Elders that will share the importance of the traditional land, culture, and the language here on amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Beaver Hills House), also known as Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Are you ready to decolonize your learning and come be a student with us?
"Life in the Land": Iikooshtaka’atbaatchaache, home of the Mighty Few. Through grassroots efforts, the Mighty Few are guiding actions that create necessary healing, economic opportunities, and self-determination to thrive into the future. For more information visit info@storiesforaction.org
Storytelling is the way knowledge, lessons, and teachings are passed on in Indigenous cultures. These stories take us back to our roots and share the values of our communities, local and abroad, using a variety of techniques. Filmmakers in attendance!
Student Lunch at Ely Senior Center provided by Ely EMPOWER & AAUW. (Please contact rdbajan@gmail.com or festival@elystatetheater.org if you or your students wish to attend either lunch event).
During this special lunch, educators, teachers, and community leaders are invited to join Ricky White, Jennalee Porter, and Ricky DeFoe for a conversation around how we reach all of our youth with land-based connection and grandfather teachings. (Please contact rdbajan@gmail.com if you or your students wish to attend either lunch event).
Boundary Waters Art Director Halle Fodness and On Set Dresser Malia Bantz will present on the behind-the-scenes processes of working in the art department for an indie film.
This shorts block travels the globe, meeting folks trying to keep old ways alive. We’ll be confronted with the question of how cultural practices evolve. How do we meet tradition and how does tradition adapt alongside us?
KAM Theatre Lab explores an experimental theatre collective based in a remote northern town in the 1970s-80s. The group combined clown and mask performance with the social commentary embodied in the back-to-the-land movement. The struggles KAM Theatre Lab faced when balancing the motivations of individual artists, the ideals of the collective, and the attempt to earn a living in a marginal town, led to schisms in the troupe. All the exhilaration and tension that come from close personal and creative relationships—while striving for uncompromising artistic and political vision—were manifest in KAM Theatre Lab.
