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How People Got Fire

2008 16 min
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This introspective short animation takes place In the village of Carcross, in the Tagish First Nation. Neighbourhood pillar Grandma Kay tell the local children the tale of how Crow brought fire to people. As the story unfolds, we also meet 12-year-old Tish, an introspective, talented girl who feels drawn to the elder. Here, past and present blend, myth and reality meet, and the metaphor of fire infuses all in a location that lies at the heart of this Native community’s spiritual and cultural memory.

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How People Got Fire

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This introspective short animation takes place In the village of Carcross, in the Tagish First Nation. Neighbourhood pillar Grandma Kay tell the local children the tale of how Crow brought fire to people. As the story unfolds, we also meet 12-year-old Tish, an introspective, talented girl who feels drawn to the elder. Here, past and present blend, myth and reality meet, and the metaphor of fire infuses all in a location that lies at the heart of this Native community’s spiritual and cultural memory.

Literature and Language Indigenous Peoples in Canada (First Nations and Métis) Literature and Language - Canada All subjects
  • screenplay
    Daniel Janke
  • direction
    Daniel Janke
  • producer
    Svend-Erik Eriksen
    Martin Rose
  • director of photography
    Brian Johnson
  • creative consultant
    M. Marilyn Cherenko
  • narrator
    Louise Profeit-Leblanc
    Jonnie-Lyn Kushniruk
  • animation
    Christopher Auchter
  • design
    Christopher Auchter
    Jay White
  • lead animator
    Jay White
  • rotoscoping
    Myk Smith
    Kari Frost
    Stuart Andrew Sharp
    Virginie St. Jean-Leblanc
    Jay White
  • classical animation
    Christopher Auchter
    Stuart Andrew Sharp
  • background painting
    Emma Barr
    Jay White
  • compositing
    Lake Pearson
    Jay White
  • editor
    Andrew Connors
  • sound design
    Daniel Janke
  • sound supervision
    Dennis Burke
  • cast
    Mae Hume
    Jonnie-Lyn Kushniruk
    Amy Smarch
    Austin Smith
  • production manager
    Jessica Hall
  • casting director
    Arlin McFarlane
  • 1st assistant director
    Paul Etherington
  • camera assistant
    Paul Pitzel
  • gaffer
    James Liston
  • key grip
    Joe Bishop
  • dolly grip
    Kurt Fraser
  • best boy
    Jay E. Sather
  • set decorator
    Emma Barr
  • props
    Emma Barr
  • assistant set decorator
    Jassin Godard
  • wardrobe
    Linda Talbot
  • hair
    Linda Talbot
  • makeup
    Linda Talbot
  • catering
    Louise Johns
    Charlie James
  • craft service
    Rosa Brown
  • transportation
    Jessie D. Jackson
  • production assistant
    Darlene Ann Smith
  • background performer
    Maya Ayotte
    Ida Calmegane
    Charlie James
    Colleen James
    Devon James
    Liam Janke
    Sophie Janke
    Art Johns
    Sheena Johns
    Naomi Donna Helm
    Tyrel Low-Bayne
    Tanisha Low-Bayne
    Heather Neumann
    Kala Neumann
    Rae-Anne Sidney
    Gina Rose Slevinsky
    Billy William Smith
    Helen June Smith
    Julia Smith
    Landis Smith
    Trevaughn Smith
    Ben Teertstra
  • research
    Sharon Shorty
  • music composer
    Daniel Janke
  • music - arrangement
    Daniel Janke
  • music - publisher
    Daniel Janke
  • musician
    Adele Armin
    Daniel Janke
    Igor Gefter
    Rick Sacks
    Jordy Walker
  • copyist
    Greg Hamilton
  • re-recording mixer
    Dennis Burke
  • online editor
    Jonathan Tyrrell
  • post-production services
    Shaman Digital Media
  • production coordinator
    Christine Sears
    Teri Snelgrove
  • technical coordinator
    Wes Machnikowski
  • production supervisor
    Kathryn Lynch
  • marketing manager
    Mia Desroches
  • program administrator
    Bruce Hagerman
  • executive producer
    Rina Fraticelli

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Education

Ages 10 to 11
Study Guides
Guide 1 Guide 2
School subjects
Arts Education - Music English Language Arts - CanLit Ethics and Religious Culture - Religious Diversity/Heritage Indigenous Studies - Identity/Society Languages - English as a Second Language Media Education - Film Animation Social Studies - Communities in Canada/World
This animated short depicts the life of a young girl in a Native village in Canada. Screen it in class and follow it up with a discussion. What are the origins of the young girl and the other villagers? What do you know about these people who live elsewhere in Canada? Why does Tish like Grandma Kay’s stories so much? Do your grandparents tell you stories? If so, what do you learn from them?
How People Got Fire
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