The Prairie region in Canada includes the three western provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Indigenous peoples in this region include Métis, First Nations represented by several main nations, namely; Cree, Blood, Ojibway and Blackfoot, Dakota, Lakota, Slave, Chippewayan, Beaver and Sarcee(1).
Indigenous peoples from the Prairie Provinces have made significant contributions to film and video. The medium of film and video has played a creative role to ensure Indigenous voices are broadcast into mainstream society to fill the Indigenous void in Canadian history.
Gil Cardinal, Metis from Alberta found inspiration for his filmmaking career rooted in his own experience of growing up isolated and alienated in the white foster care system. With encouragement from a Social Worker to attend the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Gil found his passion for filmmaking and in 1970 started out as a cameraman. Though filmmaking became Gil’s career path, he was able to normalize his childhood experience and reclaim his identity through creating revealing documentaries throughout his film career. A Gemini Award winner for his documentary Foster Child in the 1980s was a profoundly personal journey to research his birth family and, in turn, ignited his journey to learn about his Indigenous roots. Further, Gil’s documentary works also validated multitudes of other Indigenous peoples’ experiences and recovery from time in foster care systems across Canada. Gil’s film work has established his international reputation and has nurtured growing awareness of Canada’s Indigenous people’s issues and reclamation of identity. In 1997 his peers honoured Gil as the recipient of the Film and Television National Aboriginal Achievement Award(3).
Tantoo Cardinal, Metis from northern Alberta is a famous Indigenous success as a mainstream film and theatre actor known the world over. Tantoo’s career spans more than two decades and is likely most recognized in the Hollywood blockbuster role of Blackshawl in Dances with Wolves. Over the decades, Tantoo has received numerous awards and recognition for her success in film, television and theatre. To add to her roster of accomplishments, in 1993 the University of Rochester awarded Tantoo an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts. In 1998 Tantoo was the honoured recipient of the Arts and Culture National Aboriginal Achievement Award(4).
Tina Keeper, Cree from Norway House in northern Manitoba, is a household name and face as the Aboriginal RCMP officer from the successful television series North of 60. With formal acting training from the University of Winnipeg Acting program Tina also earned a double major in history, which gives her a strong foundation in understanding the plight of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Her career in acting started out helping backstage and eventually landed roles in theatre and National Film Board of Canada productions. Tina won a Gemini award in 1994 for her role in North of 60. In 2004 Tina was the recipient of the Arts & Culture National Aboriginal Achievement Award(5).
Cree from Hobbema, Alberta, Georgina Lightning has made a solid career for herself as an actor, producer and acting coach on several film initiatives including the well-known production of Smoke Signals. Georgina’s most recent work is also her debut as a director and was inspired by testimonies from those around her who went to Native Indian Boarding Schools. Georgina’s film is entitled Older Than America and features a star-studded Indigenous cast that includes Adam Beach, Tantoo Cardinal, Dan Harrison, Wes Studi, Glen Gould, Dennis Banks, Rose Bernes, Crystle Lightning and Gloria Eshkibok. Georgina has devoted her career to being an advocate of Indigenous peoples’ active participation in the mainstream film industry. She co-founded Tribal Alliance Productions, a production company committed to producing media that matters told from a native perspective. In addition, Georgina also formed Native Media Network, a group dedicated to the promotion and advancement of Native Indian talent(6).
This article is a non-comprehensive and living document that provides an overview of artistic activities in the region. It will be revised as necessary as part of our ongoing process of continuous updates.
1) http://www.aboriginalcanada.com/firstnation/dirfnab.htm
3) http://www.naaf.ca/html/g_cardinal_e.html
4) http://www.naaf.ca/html/t_cardinal_e.html
5) http://www.naaf.ca/html/t_keeper_e.html
6) http://www.olderthanamerica.com/