Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 24/99) - The government has announced it is investing $100,000 in a feature movie because it wants to cultivate Northern history and develop the NWT's tourism and film industries.

The Wounding is based on a 1986 stage play about the relationship between Samuel Hearne, the 18th-century governor-general of the NWT, and his Chipewyan companion, Matanabee. It was written and produced by Yellowknife resident Alex Czarnecki, president of Tri-Vanguard Pictures.

"This is a unique opportunity to present a significant part of Canadian history as it relates to Aboriginal Canadians," said Stephen Kakfwi, minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. "The potential economic benefits of filming in the North and the related spin-off benefits are substantial."

Potential is the key word here -- the department's statement contains a numbers of "ifs."

The GNWT is committing the $100,000 for pre-production activities like location scouting and scrip development. But it says the money will be given to Treeline Trappings Ltd., a subsidiary of the Dene Cultural Institute, on the condition that Tri-Vanguard raise the total $1.1 million required for pre-production.

In fact, Deputy Minister Joe Handley said Thursday the government won't be able to demand guarantees of Northern jobs in the project or that The Wounded will even be filmed in the NWT.

"Probably not, because we're not putting in a big amount of money relevant to the total," he said, "but discussions with the producer lead us to believe (some filming will take place here), and we would be disappointed if that didn't happen."

Handley said RWED feels the economic and tourism potentials make the investment worth the risk. The screenplay is to be written by Zachary Sklar -- nominated for an Academy Award for Oliver Stone's JFK -- and Handley said the intention is that The Wounded will be released a major motion picture across North America and Europe.

"The story of an Aboriginal leader will probably be a big attraction in Europe," he said, "and a lot of tourism is sparked by how outsiders perceive the North."

Handley defended the government's decision to invest in the film at a time when many voices are crying out for more funding for education and social services.

"Somebody could argue we could hire another teacher I suppose," he said, "but part of our problem in the North is that until we have more economic growth and economic activity we're always going to be in a jam for money to spend on social issues -- we have to continue investing in economic activity to get any return."

Handley said the project could help attract more film production to the NWT, which currently loses out to Alaska and Nunavut. Even the popular CBC series North of 60 was shot down south, mainly outside of Calgary.