Seeking Bimaadiziiwin
2007 - Drama, Super16mm, 31min
You can also puchase copies of the film online at the OFFICIAL WEBISTE, www.firstnationinitiative.ca.
INTRO
This film deals with the tough issues of depression, suicide and racism. It is intended for therapeutic use with clients to encourage participation in group therapy and to spark discussion about these critical issues. It also serves to illustrate the diversity within modern Anishinawbe culture (Northwestern Ontario, Canada) and to point out that different healing and spiritual approaches. This community film project was written by Michelle Derosier of Eagle Lake First Nation (Thunderstone Pictures) and was shot on Super 16mm film for maximum production value.
SYNOPSIS
Reserve life, family problems and the death of a close friend push Kaitlyn into a deep depression. Following a suicide attempt and a lengthy hospital stay in a strange city, she finds herself in group therapy with three other Anishinawbe youth. Despite differences in their backgrounds and personal struggles, they begin to find strength and support in each other. They begin to grow through building relationships with one another and connecting to their culture. However, a series of events and losses continue to make Kaitlyn's recovery uncertain.
PHOTOS
photo by Nadya Kwandibens. For production photos click here; or here.
ALSO
Accompanying the drama is a 30-minute educational documentary called "Sharing Tebwewin" (Sharing The Truth) designed to help health workers become more "culturally competent" when working with First Nations clients.
The First Nation Initiative (FNI) is steered by a committee of First Nations health professionals from various organizations in Thunder Bay and is coordinated by Dr. Paul Mulzer of the St. Joseph's Care Group.
Both films are the first full co-productions of Thunderstone Pictures and Shebandowan Films.
AWARDS / Festivals
SCREENING HISTORY
Sept. 10th, 2007 - Press Pre-screening, Thunder Bay, ON - 40 in attendance
Sept. 13th, 2007 - PREMIERE Bay Street Film Festival, Thunder Bay, ON - 350+ in attendance
Sept. 25th, 2007 - Ontario Health Association (OHA) Conference, Thunder Bay, ON - 150 in attendance
Oct. 2nd, 2007 - Thunder Bay Regional Sciences Centre - 70 in attendance
Oct. 9th, 2007 - Gron Morgan Elementary School, Teacher Professional Development - 50 in attendance
Oct. 13th, 2007 - Heard Museum Film Festival
Oct. 18th - Aboriginal Law and Advocacy class, Confederation College, Thunder Bay, ON - 18 in attendance
Oct. 23rd - Aborignal Voices in Media class, Confederation College, Thunder Bay, ON ~ 50 in attendance
Oct. 24th - 7:00 - 9:00 - New Experiences Program (group for youth-at-risk) - 6 in attendance
Oct. 25th - 9:00 -10:00 - Dilico Ojibway Child and Family Services - District Mental Health Team - 12 in attendance
Oct. 25th - 2:30pm, Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, Thunder Bay - approx 220 in attendance
Oct. 26th - Native Revolution Film Festival, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
Nov. 6th - 4:30pm, McKellar Park Elementary School, Teacher Development, Thunder Bay - approx 20 in attendance
Nov. 7th - American Indian Film Festival 7:00pm, Landmark Embarcadero, San Francisco, California, USA
Nov. 17th - Winninpeg Aborignal Film Festival 6:00pm Cinematheque Theatre, Winnipeg, MB
Nov. 20th - 4th year Social Work class, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON
Nov. 26th, 27th, 28th, 2007 - Creighton Youth Services, Thunder Bay, ON - approx 30 in attendance
Dec. 11th, 2007 - Hillcrest High School Staff, Thunder Bay, ON - approx 50 in attendance
Dec. 11th, 2007 - Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON - approx 50 in attendance
Dec. 19th, 2007 - St. Joseph's Care Group, St. Joseph's Heritage, Thunder Bay, ON
Jan. 11th, 2008 - Fundraiser, Finlandia Hall, Thunder Bay, ON - approx 350 in attendance
Feb. 13th, 2008 - Victim/Witness Assistance Program (V/WAP) with the Ministry of the Attorney General, Crown Attorney's Office, Thunder Bay, ON
Feb. 14th, 2008 - Pathways to Respect and Understanding With Indigenous Youth Fourm, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON ~ approx. 300 in attendance
Feb. 15th, 2008 - Anishinawbe Mushkiki Staff, Thunder Bay, ON ~ 12 in attendance
Feb. 17th, 2008 - Shadows of the Mind Film Festival, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Feb. 20th, 2008 - Anishinawbe Mushkiki Clients, Thunder Bay, ON
Feb. 20th, 2008 - Youth Suicide Conference, Thunder Bay, ON
March 7th, 2008 - Weeneebeg Aboriginal Film Festival, Moose Factory, Ontario
March 20th, 2008 - Dawson City Short Film Festival, Dawson City, Yukon
April 2008Wairoa Maori Film Festival, Aotearora, New Zealand
May 2008Talking Stick Film and Storytelling Festival, Sante Fe, New Mexico
NOTE: after this we've sort of lost track ... to date too many screenings to count
INTRO
This film deals with the tough issues of depression, suicide and racism. It is intended for therapeutic use with clients to encourage participation in group therapy and to spark discussion about these critical issues. It also serves to illustrate the diversity within modern Anishinawbe culture (Northwestern Ontario, Canada) and to point out that different healing and spiritual approaches. This community film project was written by Michelle Derosier of Eagle Lake First Nation (Thunderstone Pictures) and was shot on Super 16mm film for maximum production value.
SYNOPSIS
Reserve life, family problems and the death of a close friend push Kaitlyn into a deep depression. Following a suicide attempt and a lengthy hospital stay in a strange city, she finds herself in group therapy with three other Anishinawbe youth. Despite differences in their backgrounds and personal struggles, they begin to find strength and support in each other. They begin to grow through building relationships with one another and connecting to their culture. However, a series of events and losses continue to make Kaitlyn's recovery uncertain.
PHOTOS
photo by Nadya Kwandibens. For production photos click here; or here.
ALSO
Accompanying the drama is a 30-minute educational documentary called "Sharing Tebwewin" (Sharing The Truth) designed to help health workers become more "culturally competent" when working with First Nations clients.
The First Nation Initiative (FNI) is steered by a committee of First Nations health professionals from various organizations in Thunder Bay and is coordinated by Dr. Paul Mulzer of the St. Joseph's Care Group.
Both films are the first full co-productions of Thunderstone Pictures and Shebandowan Films.
AWARDS / Festivals
WINNER, Best Live Action Short Film
32nd Annual American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco, California, USAWINNER, Best Film
2008 Algoma International Film Association AwardsWINNER, Best Film
2008 Northern Ontario Music and Film AwardsWINNER, Best Director
2008 Northern Ontario Music and Film AwardsWINNER, Best Cinematography
2008 Northern Ontario Music and Film AwardsWINNER, 1st Place, People's Choice Award
Bay Street Film Festival, Thunder Bay, OntarioNominated, Best Short Film
2007 Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, Winnipeg, ManitobaOfficial Selection
Heard Museum Film Festival, Phoenix, ArizonaOfficial Selection
Native Revolution Film Festival, Fairbanks, Alaska, USAOfficial Selection
International Rights Protection Film Festival, Kiev, UkraineOfficial Selection
Dawson City International Short Film Festival, Dawson City, YukonOfficial Selection
Weenebeg Aboriginal Film Festival, Moose Factory, OntarioOfficial Selection
Shadows of the Mind Film Festival, Sault Ste. Marie, OntarioOfficial Selection
Sami Film Festival, Guovdageaidnu, NorwayOfficial Selection
Wairoa Maori Film Festival, Aotearora, New ZealandOfficial Selection
Talking Stick Film and Storytelling Festival, Sante Fe, New MexicoSCREENING HISTORY
Sept. 10th, 2007 - Press Pre-screening, Thunder Bay, ON - 40 in attendance
Sept. 13th, 2007 - PREMIERE Bay Street Film Festival, Thunder Bay, ON - 350+ in attendance
Sept. 25th, 2007 - Ontario Health Association (OHA) Conference, Thunder Bay, ON - 150 in attendance
Oct. 2nd, 2007 - Thunder Bay Regional Sciences Centre - 70 in attendance
Oct. 9th, 2007 - Gron Morgan Elementary School, Teacher Professional Development - 50 in attendance
Oct. 13th, 2007 - Heard Museum Film Festival
Oct. 18th - Aboriginal Law and Advocacy class, Confederation College, Thunder Bay, ON - 18 in attendance
Oct. 23rd - Aborignal Voices in Media class, Confederation College, Thunder Bay, ON ~ 50 in attendance
Oct. 24th - 7:00 - 9:00 - New Experiences Program (group for youth-at-risk) - 6 in attendance
Oct. 25th - 9:00 -10:00 - Dilico Ojibway Child and Family Services - District Mental Health Team - 12 in attendance
Oct. 25th - 2:30pm, Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, Thunder Bay - approx 220 in attendance
Oct. 26th - Native Revolution Film Festival, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
Nov. 6th - 4:30pm, McKellar Park Elementary School, Teacher Development, Thunder Bay - approx 20 in attendance
Nov. 7th - American Indian Film Festival 7:00pm, Landmark Embarcadero, San Francisco, California, USA
Nov. 17th - Winninpeg Aborignal Film Festival 6:00pm Cinematheque Theatre, Winnipeg, MB
Nov. 20th - 4th year Social Work class, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON
Nov. 26th, 27th, 28th, 2007 - Creighton Youth Services, Thunder Bay, ON - approx 30 in attendance
Dec. 11th, 2007 - Hillcrest High School Staff, Thunder Bay, ON - approx 50 in attendance
Dec. 11th, 2007 - Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON - approx 50 in attendance
Dec. 19th, 2007 - St. Joseph's Care Group, St. Joseph's Heritage, Thunder Bay, ON
Jan. 11th, 2008 - Fundraiser, Finlandia Hall, Thunder Bay, ON - approx 350 in attendance
Feb. 13th, 2008 - Victim/Witness Assistance Program (V/WAP) with the Ministry of the Attorney General, Crown Attorney's Office, Thunder Bay, ON
Feb. 14th, 2008 - Pathways to Respect and Understanding With Indigenous Youth Fourm, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON ~ approx. 300 in attendance
Feb. 15th, 2008 - Anishinawbe Mushkiki Staff, Thunder Bay, ON ~ 12 in attendance
Feb. 17th, 2008 - Shadows of the Mind Film Festival, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Feb. 20th, 2008 - Anishinawbe Mushkiki Clients, Thunder Bay, ON
Feb. 20th, 2008 - Youth Suicide Conference, Thunder Bay, ON
March 7th, 2008 - Weeneebeg Aboriginal Film Festival, Moose Factory, Ontario
March 20th, 2008 - Dawson City Short Film Festival, Dawson City, Yukon
April 2008Wairoa Maori Film Festival, Aotearora, New Zealand
May 2008Talking Stick Film and Storytelling Festival, Sante Fe, New Mexico
NOTE: after this we've sort of lost track ... to date too many screenings to count
