Indigenous Plant Diva

The Musqueam people have lived for thousands of years in and around what is now the city of Vancouver. (The word Musqueam is an anglicized term describing 'where the Muxqui [river grass] grows.') Director Kevin Lee Burton's new film Writing the Land meticulously combines film language with Hunkamenum words to recreate Musqueam elder Larry Grant's experience of rediscovering his language and cultural traditions. Fluid roaming camera movement captures the ever-changing nature of a modern city - the glass and steel towers cut against the sky, grass, trees and a sudden flash of birds in flight. In this mutable, multifaceted environment, the enduring power of language to shape perception and create memory is etched onto the wind and water. In Larry Grant's own words, 'I am from Musqueam...We have been here forever.'.

It's nearly midnight on the Yukon River. The night echoes with the sound of eight paddles, pulling through the water in unison. It's been a long day, and the paddlers are sore, tired, and drenched from storms. Still, they push on. This is the Yukon River Quest, the world's longest annual canoe and kayak race. From around the world, athletes come to test their endurance, racing day and night along 740 kilometres of rugged river shoreline. River of Life chronicles the experiences of one group of racers, the determined women who make up the 2006 Paddlers Abreast team. Candid and revealing, this beautifully-realized documentary follows the women from the moment they climb into their boat in Whitehorse to the cheers that greet them in Dawson City. Set against the stunning backdrop of Canada's north, this film combines lively footage of the race with touching and humorous interviews with the women, their families, and other paddlers. Some members of Paddlers Abreast have been in remission for years, one was diagnosed as recently as the year before. Their diverse stories unfold in intimate conversation as they reveal their indomitable will to live and the reasons for pushing themselves to new limits by paddling competitively. Stroke by stroke, they forge on; everyone moving fluidly, part of the river and its surroundings. As the documentary follows the arduous physical and emotional journey of the team made up of breast cancer survivors in its struggle towards the finish, what emerges most clearly is the incredible strength and spirit resonating from the boat. River of Life is an exhilarating story of a group of women who have faced death and understand how precious life is. By taking on the Yukon River Quest, they illustrate what it means to be fully alive.

During the summer of 2004, Indigenous people from the Downtown Eastside got a chance to tell stories of their community through their eyes. Expert training in video and storytelling gave students the tools to produce two short videos that resound with the vitality and strength of the Aboriginal community in the Downtown Eastside. Follow the Eagle, reminds us of the importance of Elders, especially in the inner city. The Elders-in-Training project started by the Aboriginal Front Door Society is helping the next generation of Elders learn how to take on their important role. Slo-Pitch tells the story of the Downtown Eastside Slo-Pitch League, which has created family-oriented recreation in the heart of the city for over 25 years. The story is told through the eyes of Brian Arrance, a Cree man who is HIV-positive and finds fun and support in the League.