Sovereignty and Resistance
This theme offers film excerpts on land claims, management of natural resources, ancestral rights and recovery of Aboriginal cultural artefacts. It also presents images showing the resistance of Aboriginal peoples to repression by non-Aboriginal culture.
Excerpts
Dancing Around the Table, Part One
2
Our Nationhood
3
5
Riel Country
3
4
Totem: The Return of the G'psgolox Pole
2
Riel Country
1996, Director: Duckworth, Martin
excerpt 4 1 min 34 s
Description
A Manitoba radio host reads Louis Riel’s speech to the jury at his 1885 trial. According to Riel, the land belongs to all those who live on it. A responsible Manitoba government has to make room for Métis and newcomers of all origins.
Questions
1. During the trial of Louis Riel in the fall of 1885, Riel stated, “God cannot create a tribe without locating it.” What did he mean and how does Canada’s society reflect this belief?
2. What sentiments were being expressed by the people calling in to the radio talk show? Are the views expressed still prevalent today?
2. What sentiments were being expressed by the people calling in to the radio talk show? Are the views expressed still prevalent today?
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Short Description
This film juxtaposes the minority status of Aboriginal students in a high school in Winnipeg and French-speaking students from a school in Saint-Boniface. Putting on a play serves as the springboard for a discussion about problems encountered by the two groups.