The Past is Always Present consists of six Indigenous made short films from the archives of the Winnipeg Film Group. While visiting the work of Shane Belcourt, Luther Alexander, Jackie Traverse, Kristin Snowbird, Trinity Linklater and Sam Vint, we explore the concept of, what American linguist, Donaldo Macedo calls, “culturally schizophrenic: being present and yet not visible, being visible and not yet present.” Dr. Suriya Bi, says,” cultural schizophrenia occurs when individuals are crushed between two or more cultures, disabling them from balancing the dictions of the cultures.” Each picture demonstrates the aftermath of oppression of the Indian Act and recalls the lack of Indigenous human rights in Canada from our collective history.
Janell Henry is an Ojibwe curator and writer from Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation (MB.) After moving to Winnipeg permanently ten years ago for education, Henry pursued media production and communications. Since, she has worked on many projects with organizations such as Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Cluster New Music and Integrated Arts Festival, Red Road Lodge and Winnipeg Trails Association. Henry’s curatorial practice challenges the Indigenous/Canadian dichotomy while working from within both realities.
Trigger Warning: Films included in this program deal with subject matter that could be triggering to viewers, such as colonialism, racism, Canada’s Residential School system, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
A Common Experience
Directed by Shane Belcourt
2013, Canada, 10 min, English
A poetic exploration of the multi-generational effects of Canada’s Indian Residential School system, based on the personal trials of Aboriginal playwright Yvette Nolan.
Exploitation
Directed by Luther Alexander
2014, Canada, 4:50 min, English
In Canada’s backyard, a colonial history of oppression and cultural genocide against Aboriginal women has created a vicious cycle of poverty, greed, addiction and abuse. And in the streets these women must overcome their situations in order to survive and at the same time, have their stories known and understood.
Butterfly
Directed by Jackie Traverse
2007, Canada, 4:22 min, English
Legend has it if you catch a butterfly and hold it in your hands you can whisper a wish to the butterfly and the butterfly will carry your wish to the Creator and your wish will come true. My wish was that our women would never be forgotten that they would be given the love and respect they deserve.
Sweat
Directed by Kristin Snowbird
2016, Canada, 4:44 min, English
A sweat lodge ceremony cannot be documented. In this film, I recreate my experience and what brought me to the sweat lodge with a metaphorical and poetic interpretation of this beautiful ceremony.
Bees & Space
Directed by Trinity Linklater
2019, Canada, 2 min
This is a film that touches on my thoughts about growing up. I wanted to use things that I think we’re appealing to my eye.
Alice and Kevin
Directed by Sam Vint
2014, Canada, 12:20 min, English and Oji-Cree
Alice became one of the first outspoken First Nations people in Canada to file a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Her fight for her son may well end up bringing proper care to disabled people on reserves all over Canada, forever.
Presented as part of the Archive/Counter-Archive project.
