Alanis Obomsawin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alanis Obomsawin
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Obomsawin after recording Waseteg in 2010
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| Born | August 31, 1932 (age 92) near Lebanon, New Hampshire, U.S.
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| Position held | creative director (1970–1976)  |
Alanis Obomsawin (born August 31, 1932) is a famous Abenaki filmmaker, singer, artist, and activist. She is known for making powerful documentary films that tell the stories of First Nations people in Canada. A documentary is a movie that shows real life and real events.
Born in the United States and raised in Quebec, Canada, Obomsawin has made many films with the National Film Board of Canada. She wants her films to give a voice to Indigenous people. She has said she wants to show that "it's O.K. to be an Indian, to be a native person in this country."
One of her most famous documentaries is Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance. This film is about the 1990 Oka Crisis, a major land dispute in Quebec.
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Early Life and Family
Alanis Obomsawin was born in 1932 near Lebanon, New Hampshire. Her name means "pathfinder." When she was a baby, her family moved back to the Odanak reserve in Quebec. A reserve is land that is set aside for a First Nation. She lived there until she was nine.
In Odanak, her mother's cousin, Théophile Panadis, taught her the history of the Abenaki Nation. He also shared many traditional songs and legends with her. These stories became very important to her.
When she was nine, her family moved to Trois-Rivières, Quebec. They were the only Indigenous family in the town. She felt lonely and held onto the songs and stories she had learned. Her father died when she was twelve.
At age 22, she left the reserve and later moved to Montreal. In the late 1950s, she began her career as a singer and storyteller. She performed at schools, prisons, and festivals. In 1969, her daughter, Kisos Obomsawin, was born.
A Career of Storytelling
Singer and Songwriter
In 1960, Obomsawin started her professional career as a singer in New York City. She toured across Canada, the United States, and Europe. She often performed to raise money for good causes.
In the 1960s, she was featured on a Canadian TV show called Telescope. The show highlighted her campaign to build a swimming pool for the children on her home reserve. Her 1988 album, Bush Lady, included traditional Abenaki songs and her own music.
Filmmaker and Educator
Obomsawin's journey into filmmaking began because of the swimming pool campaign. The children in her community of Odanak were not allowed to swim in a nearby pool because it was only for white people. So, she started raising money to build a new pool just for them.
Producers at the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) saw her on TV talking about the pool. They were impressed and invited her to work with them as an advisor on a film about Aboriginal people. Soon, she began directing her own films.
Her first documentary for the NFB was Christmas at Moose Factory (1971). Since then, she has directed over 50 films. Her movies explore important issues for First Nations communities.
Important Films
- The Oka Crisis Series: Obomsawin made four films about the 1990 Oka Crisis. This was a 78-day standoff between Mohawk people, the police, and the army over a piece of land. Her film Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (1993) won 18 international awards for its powerful storytelling.
- Stories of Struggle and Hope: Many of her films show the challenges Indigenous people face. Incident at Restigouche (1984) shows a police raid on a Mi'kmaq reserve. Richard Cardinal: Cry from a Diary of a Métis Child (1986) is a sad film about a teenager's life.
- Celebrating Culture and Rights: Obomsawin also makes films that celebrate Indigenous culture and strength. Our Nationhood (2003) is about the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation's fight to manage their own natural resources. Our People Will Be Healed (2017) shows a special school in the Norway House Cree Nation that focuses on Cree culture.
- Fighting for Children: Her 2014 film Trick or Treaty? explores the history of Treaty No. 9, an important agreement between First Nations and the Canadian government. In 2016, We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice looked at a human rights case about fair treatment for First Nations children.
Artist and Printmaker
Besides making films, Obomsawin is also a talented artist. For over 25 years, she has created engravings and prints. Her art often shows images of mothers and children, animals, and historical events. Her work has been displayed in art galleries in Canada and Europe.
Awards and Recognition
Alanis Obomsawin has received many awards for her work. She is seen as a hero and a leader in Canadian film and culture.
Some of her top honors include:
- Order of Canada: She was named a Companion of the Order of Canada, which is one of the highest honors a Canadian can receive.
- Governor General's Awards: She has won two Governor General's Awards, one for performing arts and another for visual and media arts.
- National Order of Quebec: She was named a Grand Officer of this high honor in her home province of Quebec.
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Many festivals and organizations have given her awards for her lifelong work, including the Toronto Film Critics Association and the Valdivia International Film Festival in Chile.
- Honorary Degrees: Obomsawin has received many honorary degrees from universities like McGill, York, and the University of British Columbia. This is a way for universities to honor people who have made a great impact on the world.
Two awards have been named after her to honor her legacy. The "Alanis Obomsawin Best Documentary Award" is given out each year at a major Indigenous film festival.
Selected Filmography
Alanis Obomsawin has made many films. Here are some of them:
- Christmas at Moose Factory (1971)
- Mother of Many Children (1977)
- Incident at Restigouche (1984)
- Richard Cardinal: Cry from a Diary of a Métis Child (1986)
- Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (1993)
- My Name is Kahentiiosta (1995)
- Rocks at Whiskey Trench (2000)
- Is the Crown At War With Us? (2002)
- Our Nationhood (2003)
- Gene Boy Came Home (2007)
- The People of the Kattawapiskak River (2012)
- Hi-Ho Mistahey! (2013)
- Trick or Treaty? (2014)
- We Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice (2016)
- Our People Will Be Healed (2017)
- Jordan River Anderson, the Messenger (2019)
- Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair (2021)
