Student film puts aboriginal truths and myths in the spotlight

A pair of Indigenous Studies students, Danielle Thrasher and Terry Ramirez, recently directed a 15-minute documentary focusing on contemporary Aboriginal culture, Replanting Our Roots.

The video, which began as a class assignment overseen by associate professor Dawn Martin-Hill, turned into a much larger project last summer once the duo realized they had more to say. Throughout July and August of 2012, the team started whittling down video interviews touching on aboriginal stereotypes in popular culture and professional sports. But a much larger goal, says Thrasher, was to offer a new outlet for students and community members to discuss current affairs, share stories and reflect on traditions.

“We wanted to create a spark, and ignite a much larger discussion,” Thrasher explains from her home in Stratford, Ont. “Youth and women are underrepresented in general, let alone in aboriginal cultures, and we especially wanted to provide a venue for women to speak.”

Guests in the video include Bertha Skye, elder in residence with McMaster’s Indigenous Studies Program; Leroy Hill, Cayuga sub chief, Haudenosaunee Traditional Council; McMaster student Wesley Miller; Indigenous Studies professor Hayden King, and others.

Local singer and Six Nations community leader Valerie King was also on hand to offer input during the editing process, and lent her voice to the film’s soundtrack.

The filmmakers screened Replanting Our Roots to a receptive room of 50 at this year’s Indigenous Studies end-of-year social, and also gave a special viewing to the University’s community-driven PACBIC (President’s Advisory Committee on Building an Inclusive Community) committee in March. They hope to add more dates in the near future.

Click below to view the film in its entirety: