Cinema and Representation
This theme focuses on the ways in which Aboriginal peoples have been represented in NFB documentaries. Film excerpts illustrate how the representation of Aboriginal peoples has evolved over the last fifty years.
Excerpts
Caribou Hunters
1
César's Bark Canoe/César et son Canot d'écorce
1
Circle of the Sun
2
The Other Side of the Ledger: An Indian View of the Hudson's Bay Company
2
Totem: The Return of the G'psgolox Pole
1
The Other Side of the Ledger: An Indian View of the Hudson's Bay Company
1972, Director: Defalco, Martin, Dunn, Willie
excerpt 2 3 min 30 s
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Closed captions (CC)
Translation of the audio portion of a film into subtitles, for example, dialogue, narration, sound effects, etc. These captions let hearing-impaired viewers read what they cannot hear. Closed captions are available for a few films. To access them, you must select QuickTime (under Format) and With closed captions (under Accessibility).
Described video (DV)
A narrated description of a film's key visual elements to enable the vision-impaired to form a mental picture of what is happening on screen. Described video is available for a few films. To access them, you must select QuickTime (under Format) and With described video (under Accessibility).
1. A question raised in the film is: why is it that the lowest income earners in Canada have to pay the highest price for the goods they buy? What explanation does the divisional manager for the trading company give for this situation?
2. How does awareness about the issues depicted in the film help to resolve these long-standing issues for Aboriginal people?
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Short Description
The film narrated by George Manuel, president of the National Indian Brotherhood, presents the views of spokesmen for Canadian First Nations and Métis groups and reveals their experiences with the Hudson’s Bay Company.