Cultural events documented in videos
Tradition preserved through release of two films recorded on Hay River Reserve
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, November 7, 2016
K'ATLODEECHE/HAY RIVER RESERVE
K'atlodeeche First Nation has just released the first two videos in a new initiative to record events - particularly cultural activities - on the Hay River Reserve.
"This is a first for KFN and we are proud to have been able to produce this important record of these cultural events held here on the reserve," stated Chief Roy Fabian in an Oct. 25 news release.
The two videos were recorded over the summer.
The first focuses on the annual hand games competition held on the reserve in August. There is a short and extended version of the video highlighting the culture and customs behind Dene handgames. The video includes interviews with participants in the games.
The second video is a documentary and summary of the First Nation's annual assembly in August. The video highlights the discussions and decisions taken at the assembly, and features interviews with band members and councillors.
The videos were created by Sean Tambour Marshall, a First Nations member who actually grew up in San Francisco and earned a degree in film at San Francisco State University.
"It's a first for us to have videos that were produced by somebody who knows that business," Peter Groenen, the First Nation's chief executive officer, told News/North.
Groenen said the band will consider more videos in the future.
"We certainly have it on our list to look at some additional videos around cultural activities," he said.
The videos were created with $5,000 in support from the NWT Arts Council of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. KFN also added about $1,500 to the project.
"And we're pretty proud of the results," said Groenen.
The CEO said the initiative is all about trying to preserve culture, and in a medium so that it could be shown.
In fact, he noted the First Nation has already heard from Chief Sunrise Education Centre that it will be using the videos in classes.
"So we really just want for our band members to know the culture but other people as well to gain some exposure for KFN," said Groenen.
As for what might become the subject of videos in the future, he suggested it could be events like K'amba Carnival, the annual fall hunt and on-the-land programming.
The two new videos can be viewed on the KFN website at: katlodeeche.com
