Wochiigii lo: End of the Peace follows the struggles of Diane Abel and Chief Roland Willson of West Moberly First Nations as they battle the BC government against the construction of a multi-billion-dollar mega-dam along the Peace River (commonly known as Site C Dam). If constructed, it will give way to the extinction of their people’s culture by destroying the land and water they have occupied for over 13,000 years. While crown corporations and political parties collude against their traditional way of life, the desire to fight for their nation is embedded in these two resilient individuals.

Director: Heather Hatch (Haida)
Writer: Heather Hatch (Haida)
Producers: Heather Hatch, Ava Karvonen
Language: English
Canada | 2021 | 85 mins

PREVIEW SHORT FILM:

ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught)
Director: Brit Hensel (Cherokee Nation)

USA | 2022 | 9 mins | English

Filmed on the Qualla Boundary and Cherokee Nation, ᎤᏕᏲᏅ (What They’ve Been Taught) explores expressions of reciprocity in the Cherokee world, brought to life through a story told by an elder and first language speaker. ᎤᏕᏲᏅ circles the intersection of tradition, language, land, and a commitment to maintaining balance. This film was created in collaboration with independent artists from both Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, filmed in North Carolina and Oklahoma, and produced by Taylor Hensel (Cherokee, who is also Brit’s sister), Adam Mazo, Kavita Pillay, and Tracy Rector as part of Reciprocity Project. The project seeks to embrace the value of reciprocity through Indigenous perspectives through storytelling, film, podcasts, and other creative mediums. The ultimate goal of Reciprocity Project is to create a paradigm shift that reframes our relationships to the Earth, other living beings, and one another.

NOTE: This film is available in the BIRRARANGGA Film Festival 3-pass and 5-pass ticket packages.

Contact the host of Wochiigii lo: End of the Peace