Film tells story of war and surviving residential schools
'Bones of Crows,' a Canadian drama playing at Cinefest, tells the story of a residential school survivor who becomes a code talker for the Canadian Air Forces in the Second World War.
Her contribution was highly valued because she was still fluent in Cree, one of the languages residential schools strove to eradicate. It's directed by Indigenous filmmaker Marie Clements.
"I don't think that we have had a lot of representation dramatically cinematically," Clements told CTV News.
"I believe this might be the first feature written directed and created by an Indigenous filmmaker ... I was just really hungry to be able to do to give an Indigenous POV.
Clements said the impacts of residential schools are very much present today.
"We are discovering Indigenous children's bodies across this country," she said.
"We are receiving apologies by the Pope for that partnership with the government. So I think although it might seem to some people that it is in our past and it should be left there, our families are still experiencing it and it's still happening as if it is present."
Bones of Crows is one of several Indigenous films on the Cinefest lineup this year under the festival's Cinema Indigenized program.
It's a fairly new program -- we are in our third year," said Christa Corbiere, Cinefest Indigenous programming,
"It's a program that is supporting Indigenous filmmaking. So we usually have films that are feature-length narrative documentaries and shorts. And they cover stories about Indigenous people and they are always by Indigenous filmmakers, as well."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.