BANFF 2017: Forward from here - Bridging Canada 150 and Canada 1491

By Bill Roberts

BANFF – The recent controversy about cultural appropriation is only the latest Canadian flashpoint regarding Indigenous peoples and their relationship with centuries of non-indigenous immigration.But can such grappling with identity, nationhood, and creativity be catalysts for constructive change?Indigenous stories are already welcoming audiences here and around the world, for example Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001) which won ACCT, Genie and Claude Jutta Awards in 2002; or more recently We Were Children (2012, pictured), the acclaimed documentary about the experiences of First Nations children in the Canadian residential school system.With the success of APTN, the work underway at the NFB, and...