First Nations Films| native films, first nations productions, first nations, educational dvds, canadian indians, educational videos, first nations videos

Award-winning television Aboriginal documentary films and videos for, by and about First Nations people.

FIRST NATIONS FILMS
Distributes award-winning television films for, by and about First Nations people. Our exclusive and affordable DVDs are shared with schools, universities, libraries, organiza-tions, and other educational groups and institutions. These films are cherished by students and educators around the world.

604-318-5418 - richard@firstnationsfilms.com

SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES - 12 to 112. Please visit our catalogue page and view "playable" scenes from these emotionally moving and exciting programs.

	NEW FILMS!
		NEW FILM! - AMERICAN COWBOYS - DOCUMENTARY - American Cowboys is a story about Jackson Sundown, a Nez Perce Indian, who was the first Native American to win the World Saddle Bronc Championship at the 1916 Pendleton Round-Up. George Fletcher was the first African American to compete in the 1911 controversial Saddle Bronc finals for the World Title at the Pendleton Round-Up. Sundown and Fletcher were two legendary cowboys who broke the color barriers in the rodeo arena at the turn of the 20th Century. SELECT AWARDS - Great Plains Film Festival, New York International Independent Festival, American Indian Film Festivasl 47 or 26 minutes (149.00). (order)

		NEW FILM! - UNBOWED - DRAMA - Produced by Filmanthropic, this provocative, award winning feature film dramatizes the historic attempt to force assimilation of American Indians and African Americans at Southern Negro Colleges in the late 1800s. The little-known period provides a dramatic backdrop for a compelling interracial love story. At its heart, "UnBowed" is a story about courage — the courage to love, even when it's forbidden; the courage to endure when the social, economic or cultural environment changes. BEST FILM (producer/director Nanci Rossov) BEST ACTOR (Jay Tavare) American Indian Film Festival AUDIENCE FAVORITE (2nd place) Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles BEST SCREENPLAY (Mildred Inez Lewis) Jamerican Film Festival "UnBowed" was broadcast on Starz. (order)

		NEW FILM! - IN SEARCH OF HAMAT'SA - DOCUMENTARY A tale of headhunting! - 2004 - 33 min. The Hamat'sa (or "Cannibal Dance") is the most important-and highly represented ceremony of the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) people of British Columbia. This exciting and dramatic film dives into the history of the dance and presents some of the ways in which diverse attitudes toward this history create current dramatic and colorful performances of the Hamat'sa. The film also explores the relationship between First Nations history and the people that have told it. (order)

		NEW FILM! - LIFE ON THE RESERVE - DOCUMENTARY - Highlights the significant challenges and hopes of people living on reserves, as told by the residents themselves. Graham Shonfield, the 19-year old documentary filmmaker, had volunteered for development work in Africa, but nothing prepared him for the impoverished conditions that he experienced first hand in Northern Ontario at Gull Bay First Nation reserve. This film intro-duces you to what living on a reserve is really like. Although Gull Bay is only one reserve in this great country, it has similarities to them all..(order)

	HOT TOPICS!
		FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILTY FOR FIRST NATIONS OTTAWA-The Conservative government appears poised to introduce a bill to force First Nations chiefs and band councillors to publicly disclose their salaries. Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan is expected to introduce a bill titled, An Act to enhance the financial accountability and transparency of First Nations. The title of the bill echoes the title of a private member's bill introduced by Saskatchewan Conservative MP Kelly Block before the last federal election. Block's bill would have required the publishing of all federally-funded chief and council expenses and salaries by the beginning of August every year. more

		THE INDIAN ACT - The Indian Act - A new feature has been added to the consolidated Laws on the Justice Laws Web site: Provisions in original enactments that are not yet in force will be shaded. As those provisions are brought into force, the shading will be removed. This will make it possible to easily identify which provisions of original enactments are or are not yet in force. more

		INDIAN RESERVES - Indian Reserves are the most visible reminder of the separation of aboriginal people from the rest of Canada and other Canadians. Illness patterns and social conditions in Native communities closely parallel those in developing nations. While they continue to have a large burden of infectious diseases, these groups also have an increased incidence of chronic and lifestyle diseases as well as environment-related conditions. Similarities can be seen in urban areas between immigrants from abroad and people from reserves. Barriers impede full access to and benefit from the Canadian health care ... More on Reserves

		TOTEM POLES The history of the Canada totem pole goes back for generations. The totems had multiple Northwest Native figures carved on tall, western cedar poles. It was intended to have each figure represent a meaning. Overall, a totem pole told a real life or mythical story. Sometimes the figures also represented a Northwest Native family's crest or coat of arms recording their family history.

	FIRST NATIONS FILMS
		IN PRODUCTION MEDICINE WHEEL 2 - is now in production. Our small crews are traveling to locations across Canada to do interviews and shoot visual materials. SO FAR FROM HOME - is now in production. Initial research and contacts have begun on this exciting and emotional new film. Stay tuned. BOUNDARIES - is now in production. Analysing the Indian "business" in Canada ... where is all the money going? Stay tuned!

		PEOPLE LOVE OUR FILMS! Wonderful emails and notes from many of you about how you love our films and how you have positive feedback from your groups and classrooms. One man called our films "hidden gems" and wished he could tell everyone about them. Keep those notes coming as we love the feedback! catalogue

		FIRST NATIONS FILMS! distributes our exclusive collection of films all over this world, all over this globe. Groups, educators and individuals from the Outbacks of Australia to the far reaches of Canada's north, from Vancouver Island to the coast of Japan have purchased and are using our films in their classrooms, schools and libraries. From the shelves of Harvard University to the desks of Brandon University First Nations Films educates and entertains people from all over the world as we spread "Our Stories" and concerns about First Nations People. See our catalogue

FILMS ON DVD

THE MEDICINE WHEEL
LIFE ON THE RESERVE
UNBOWED
DECEPTION OF FREEDOM
WHOSE LAND IS THIS?
MAKING TREATIES
ROLE MODELS
BEAT OF THE DRUM
NATIVE WOMEN: POLITICS
RECLAIMING OUR CHILDREN
THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
LIVING IN TWO WORLDS
SLEEP DANCER
VANISHING LINKS
HIV - IF THERE IS A WILL
ECHOES OF THE SISTERS
THE STORYTELLERS
THE PIPEMAKERS
SCARED BUFFALO PEOPLE
THE MEDICINE PEOPLE

Playable Videos Online
First Nations Films has playable videos available at our website. Get a "taste" of the films by clicking on the icons. (more)

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We Make Films Too!
First Nations films is first and foremost a production company - contact us to discuss bringing your film to life. (more)

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Send Us Your Films
At First Nations Films we are looking for new films to distribute. Please send us yours and we will screen it and let you know if we can carry it. (more)

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