The People of the Kattawapiskak River facts for kids

The People of the Kattawapiskak River is a documentary film made in 2012 by Alanis Obomsawin. A documentary film tells a true story, often about real events and people. This film looks at the living conditions in the Attawapiskat First Nation, a community of Indigenous people in Canada. In October 2011, this community declared a "state of emergency" because many people did not have safe homes or basic services like clean water. The film also connects to the Idle No More protests, which were a movement to support Indigenous rights.

Alanis Obomsawin was already in the Attawapiskat community in 2011, working on another film called Hi-Ho Mistahey!. While she was there, the housing problems in Attawapiskat became a big national news story. Her film follows the crisis up to August 2012. At that time, the Federal Court of Canada decided that it was not fair to appoint an outside manager to fix the housing problems. The film shows what life was like in the community and includes interviews with people living there. Obomsawin also shares the history of the village, which started around 1850 when Catholic missionaries built a church there.

Alanis Obomsawin uses the name "Kattawapiskak" in the film's title and throughout the movie instead of "Attawapiskat." She believes "Kattawapiskak" is the community's true and correct name.

What is This Film About?

This film is a documentary that shows the real-life challenges faced by the people of the Attawapiskat First Nation. In 2011, this community declared a "state of emergency." This means their leaders felt the situation was very serious and needed urgent help. Many families did not have safe or warm homes, and there were not enough basic services for everyone.

A Community in Need

The main problem shown in the film was a serious lack of housing. Many homes were old, damaged, or overcrowded. This caused health and safety worries for the people living there. The film helps viewers understand what it was like for the community during this difficult time. It also shows how the community's struggles became part of a larger movement called Idle No More, which brought attention to Indigenous rights across Canada.

The Director's View

The film's director, Alanis Obomsawin, is a famous Indigenous filmmaker. She was already working in Attawapiskat when the housing crisis became big news. She decided to make this film to share the community's story with more people. She believes it's important for people to hear directly from those affected. Obomsawin chose to use the name "Kattawapiskak" in the film's title because she feels it is the proper name for the community.

What Happened Next?

The film follows the events of the housing crisis. It shows how the community tried to get help and how the Canadian government responded. It also covers a big decision made by the Federal Court of Canada in August 2012. The court decided that the government was wrong to appoint an outside manager to take over the community's finances to fix the housing issues. This decision was a significant moment for the community.

Sharing the Film

Alanis Obomsawin has a special way of sharing her films. She always shows them to the local community first, before they are seen by the public. She did this for The People of the Kattawapiskak River too. This practice shows her respect for the people whose stories she tells.

First Screenings

The film had its official premiere at the 13th ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival in Toronto. This festival celebrates films and art by Indigenous creators. Many important people attended the premiere, including Alanis Obomsawin herself, Chief Theresa Spence from Attawapiskat, and Member of Parliament Charlie Angus. Community members from Attawapiskat were also there.

The film was also shown at another festival called the Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal on November 11, 2012. Later, from January 11 to 18, 2013, the National Film Board of Canada made the film available for free online on its NFB.ca website. This allowed many more people to watch it.

Awards and Recognition

On March 4, 2014, The People of the Kattawapiskak River received an important award. It won the Donald Brittain Award for best social/political documentary program at the 2nd Canadian Screen Awards. This award recognizes films that explore important social or political topics.