The People of Kattawapiskak River Movie Review – Human Rights Watch Film Festival

The People of the Kattawapiskak River – Photo from National Film Board of Canada

Director: Alanis Obomsawin

Canada / 2012 78 minutes

Screening: Thursday February 28th 2013

Its fitting that the documentary, The People of Kattawapiskak River would opens on the Canadian House of Parliament’s question period, which once again finds itself mired in who is ultimately responsible for the dehumanizing conditions in the community of the Attawapiskak First Nation in Northern Ontario.  The results of years of intransigence and government mismanagement has manifest in a patch work of unweatherized sheds, no running water, inadequate washroom facilities and stratospheric grocery bills.  So it would stand to reason that National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Shawn Atleo, does not and will not support the externally imposed unilateral decisions on the part of government.

In order to show the systemic discrimination on the part of the Canadian government, Director, Alanis Obomsawin narrates us back to the roots of the 1905 James Bay Treaty #9, which specified that one square mile would be reserved for each native family of five. It was a false promise.  Eventually, the colonizers took over their land, their natural resources and their traditional way of life.

These unvarnished stories told by the forgotten people of Kattawapiskak resonates the loudest. The sub arctic condition serves as the backdrop to crushing poverty where hope is the only solace. Even with national cover by CBC reporters and Chief Teresa Spence helming a movement through her hunger strike, this narrative fail to impact the talking head in the Ottawa bubble. Throw in the De Beer Victor Diamond Mine failure to reopen its Impact Benefits Agreement as vast amounts of wealth moves south without reaching the surrounding communities and the injustices compound exponentially.

The People of Kattawapiskak River serves as a searing indictment to all Canadians on the ravages of systemic discrimination of the Attawapiskak First Nation.  This salient documentary should be required viewing for all Canadians, especially politicians in order to put into perspective how our first world country continues to manifested the crime of third world living conditions within its borders. With our vast resources and economic and political wealth, the politicians in Ottawa continually placate First Nations people with their double speak, but to no avail. The People of Kattawapiskak River and all first nations people will not give up the fight, and this critical portrayal of these issues are just the vehicle to keep it in the public consciousnesses.

Verdict: 4 out of 5 – A third world problem in a first world country simple does NOT add up.