CBC and Parks Canada announced Monday a partnership to bring indigenous films and series to national parks and national historic sites across Canada this summer.
Titled “Rooted: A CBC & Parks Canada Indigenous Stories Screening Series”, the free events “provide an opportunity for families and park enthusiasts to engage with and celebrate First Nations, Inuit and Métis stories, while immersed in the natural and cultural world,” reads a CBC press release.
Free screenings for Rooted are underway now until August 31, hosted by parks and historic sites including: Kluane National Park and Reserve in the Yukon; Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, Fort Langley National Historic Site and Fort St. James National Historic Site in British Columbia; Elk Island National Park in Alberta; Point Pelee National Park, Bellevue House National Historic Site and Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site in Ontario; Fortifications of Québec National Historic Site in Quebec; Kouchibouguac National Park and Fundy National Park in New Brunswick; and Gros Morne National Park and Port au Choix National Historic Site in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Parks Canada sites programmed the Rooted series from a curated list of English and French-language family-friendly films and series from the CBC Gem and ICI TOU.TV collections that celebrate indigenous perspectives and traditions, and spotlight stories from local communities.
Titles include documentaries such as: Hope Makers: Pisuwin, a behind-the-scenes look at the first-ever Wolastoqiyik ballet, Pisuwin, on the road to its world premiere in Fredericton; CBC Kids News’ Prix Jeunesse-winning Returning to Ulukhaktok, following students in a remote Northwest Territories community on a journey to reconnect with their Inuvialuit identity; and Onze nations pour une chanson, following artists from the 11 indigenous nations of Quebec as they rehearse an iconic Quebecois folk-rock track, adapted for each artist to sing in their own ancestral language.
The full list of participating parks, event dates and screening titles is available here.
“Our partnership with Parks Canada offers a great opportunity to introduce new audiences across Canada to Indigenous stories in a meaningful way,” Maya Kane, CBC’s executive director of marketing and communications, said in the public broadcaster’s press release. “This new collaboration allows us to build stronger awareness of the expansive original Indigenous programming available on our platforms, and reinforces our year-round commitment to supporting and sharing Indigenous storytelling.”
“National parks and national historic sites are places of learning, reflection and connection. This collaboration with CBC brings Indigenous stories to life in these special places, offering visitors meaningful opportunities to engage with First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures while surrounded by the landscapes where many of these stories are rooted,” Julie Dabrusin, federal minister of the environment, climate change and nature, said in a statement. “By making these screenings accessible to all, we are helping to amplify Indigenous voices, foster greater understanding of cultures and traditions, and strengthen our commitment to reconciliation.”
Image courtesy of CBC
