UNB Saint John hosts Indigenous Film Festival for anniversary of 94 Calls to Action

To mark the 10th anniversary year of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action, UNB Saint John is beginning a year of programming, starting with an Indigenous Film Festival.

The festival begins Tuesday night in the Ganong Hall Lecture Theatre with Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair, a 2021 documentary directed by Abenaki American-Canadian filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin.

"It's been 10 years since Senator Murray Sinclair stood and talked about the horrors of the residential school system and calls to action for Canadians," said Todd Ross, the acting Piluwitahasuwin, or the associate vice-president of Indigenous engagement, at the university.

"Unfortunately, [Sinclair] passed away just recently, but such a tremendous life that he led."

In December 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its final report into the history and legacy of Canada's residential school system. It gave a detailed account of what happened to Indigenous children in those schools. 

Earlier that year, the commission published 94 calls to action, urging all levels of government to work together to change policies and programs in an effort to repair the harm caused by residential schools and move forward with reconciliation. 

At the time, Sinclair said many of the recommendations and calls to action were not just aimed at government, but at Canadian society as a whole. 

Following the 30-minute film about Sinclair's life, Ross said there will be a series of five short films from the National Film Board about the Friendship Centre Movement in urban environments.

According to the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Friendship Centre Movement is a national network of Indigenous-owned and operated community hubs offering programs, services and support to Indigenous people living in urban, rural and remote areas. 

The site says approximately 61 per cent of Indigenous people are living in urban settings.

The second night of the festival, Wednesday, will showcase Wildhood, a Nova Scotia film about a young Two-Spirit person who leaves on a quest to search for their mother, said Ross.

Thursday, according to UNB's website, will show a collection of short films: Welima'q, Wabanaki Modern, Plaansh a Roo, Arctic Song, Hebron Relocation and Nalujuk Night.

The film festival is just a start, and Ross said UNB will be working with its elders council to hold events throughout the year.

"Throughout the year, we're planning a number of events that recognize these calls to action, but we also recognize our responsibility as individuals as well as an institution toward working with Indigenous communities across New Brunswick and across Turtle Island," Ross said.