Kim O'Bomsawin facts for kids
Kim O’Bomsawin is a talented writer, film director, and a champion for human rights. She especially works to support Indigenous women in Canada and the U.S. Kim O'Bomsawin is from the Abenaki people, who are a First Nation group in Quebec, Canada. Many people see her as one of the most important Indigenous filmmakers today.
About Kim O'Bomsawin
Kim O'Bomsawin went to university and earned a master's degree in sociology. Sociology is the study of how people live together in groups and societies. After her studies, she decided to become a documentary filmmaker. She has helped write and direct many films and TV shows.
Kim O'Bomsawin's Films
Kim O'Bomsawin has created several important documentaries. Here are some of her well-known works:
Skindigenous: Tattoos as Art
Skindigenous is a TV series that first aired in Canada in 2018. This show teaches us that tattoos are a very old art form. They are found in many different cultures all over the world, not just in one place or among one group of people. The people who made the show traveled around the world. They wanted to learn how ancient tribal traditions are still part of tattoo culture today. Each episode focuses on a different part of the world and the people who practice this special art.
The Red Line: Hockey and Choices
The Red Line was Kim O'Bomsawin's very first film. This documentary looks at hockey in Indigenous communities in Quebec. It focuses on young players like Amy-Léa, Mikisew, and Frédérik. Like many young Canadians, they give their all to hockey. The film's title, "The Red Line," talks about the difficult choices these players face. They have to decide between their cultural traditions and their love for the sport. The film also shows how sports can help prevent young people from getting into trouble in First Nation communities.
Kirano: Defining Indigenous Identity
Kirano is a web documentary. This means it's a film made to be watched online. It tells the stories of 10 different Indigenous people. Some of them are famous, like rapper Samian, politician Alexis Wawanoloath, and snowboarder Caroline Calvé. All 10 people are asked an important question: "How do you define yourself as Indigenous in 2015?" Kim O'Bomsawin made this film into 10 short video clips that you can watch online.
Quiet Killing: Speaking for the Missing
Quiet Killing (Ce silence qui tue) is one of Kim O'Bomsawin's most famous films. It shares the real stories of many missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. Through this film, O'Bomsawin helps people understand the human side of this serious social problem. She brings attention to an issue that often doesn't get enough notice.
From Teweikan to Electro: Music and Connection
More recently, Kim O'Bomsawin created a project called From Teweikan to Electro. This film celebrates how music and sound can bring people together. In the film, she features singer-songwriters like Pakesso Mukash, Shauit, and Moe Clark. These artists are making their mark in modern music like electro and reggae. They work to create links between different generations, between the living and those who have passed away, and between different lands. O'Bomsawin made this project to explore the history of First Nation music.
Telling Our Story
In 2023, she also created a documentary series called Telling Our Story.
Ninan Auassat: We, the Children
Her documentary film Ninan Auassat: We, the Children (Ninan Auassat: Nous, les enfants) was shown for the first time at the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival. It won the award for Best Canadian Documentary there!
Kim O'Bomsawin's Activism
Besides making films that highlight the voices of Indigenous people, Kim O'Bomsawin also works as an activist. She wants to make sure that Indigenous people are shown and respected in the world of art.
She spoke out about the importance of fair representation when she criticized a play called Kanata by playwright Robert Lepage. The play was supposed to tell the story of the relationship between white and Indigenous people in Canada. However, it was canceled in July 2017. This happened after more than 30 members of the Canadian Indigenous community, including Kim O'Bomsawin, wrote an open letter. They wrote to a newspaper to say that Lepage had not included Indigenous performers in the show.
In an interview, Kim O'Bomsawin said, "I thought, 'Maybe with the experience I have, I can talk some sense into (Lepage), to make him see what it represents on a human scale — the pain of people.' Is it really necessary (to exclude Indigenous actors), in the name of art? Sure you have the right, but is it really necessary?"
Kim O'Bomsawin also shared her thoughts on the blackface issue involving Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She said it was surprising to see the Canadian leader in blackface.
