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Is the Crown at war with us?

2002 1 h 36 min
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In this feature-length documentary by Alanis Obomsawin, it's the summer of 2000 and the country watches in disbelief as federal fisheries wage war on the Mi'kmaq fishermen of Burnt Church, New Brunswick. Why would officials of the Canadian government attack citizens for exercising rights that had been affirmed by the highest court in the land? Casting her cinematic and intellectual nets into history to provide context, Obomsawin delineates the complex roots of the conflict with passion and clarity, building a persuasive defence of the Mi'kmaq position.

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This work contains scenes of violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
Is the Crown at war with us?

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In this feature-length documentary by Alanis Obomsawin, it's the summer of 2000 and the country watches in disbelief as federal fisheries wage war on the Mi'kmaq fishermen of Burnt Church, New Brunswick. Why would officials of the Canadian government attack citizens for exercising rights that had been affirmed by the highest court in the land? Casting her cinematic and intellectual nets into history to provide context, Obomsawin delineates the complex roots of the conflict with passion and clarity, building a persuasive defence of the Mi'kmaq position.
This work contains scenes of violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
Francophone Communities Politics and Government - Canada Indigenous Peoples in Canada (First Nations and Métis) Fishing and Hunting Industries All subjects
Indigenous Cinema
  • original music composer
    Francis Grandmont
  • writer
    Alanis Obomsawin
  • director
    Alanis Obomsawin
  • editor
    Alison Burns
  • camera
    Philippe Amiguet
    Yoan Cart
    Michel La Veaux
  • location sound
    Raymond Marcoux
    Ismaël Cordeiro
  • musician
    Francis Grandmont
    Normand Guilbeault
    Eloi Painchaud
    Nadine Turbide
  • assistant camera
    Sébastien Cassou
    Geoffroy St-Hilaire
    Philippe Martel
  • sound editor
    André Chaput
  • photo animation
    Meilan Lam
  • production assistant
    Wayne Dedam
    Burdett Vicaire
    Wendell Metallic
  • sound technician
    Biagio Pagano
  • digital editing technician
    Danielle Raymond
  • voice recording
    Patrick Knup
  • voice recording director
    Claude Dionne
  • voice
    Arthur Holden
    Tony Robinow
  • narration
    Alanis Obomsawin
  • drawings
    Sgoagani
  • transcription
    Tyson Phillips
  • stills photographer
    Pamela Mitchell
    Jean Bartibogue
    Tina Young
  • research
    Alanis Obomsawin
  • animation camera
    Pierre Landry
  • post-production coordinator
    Claude Cardinal
    Linda Payette
  • underwater images
    Chris Harvey-Clark
  • amateur video camera
    Christian Peacemaker Teams
    Mark Simon
    Geronimo Somerville
    Aboriginal Rights Coalition
    Judy Loo
    Clinton Sorbey
  • music recording
    Geoffrey Mitchell
    Sylvain Cajelais
  • re-recording mixer
    Serge Boivin
    Jean Paul Vialard
  • sound post production technician
    Daniel Trépanier
    Patrick Viegas
  • titles
    Gaspard Gaudreau
    Louise Overy
  • on-line technician
    Denis Pilon
  • digital video to film transfer
    Gaspard Gaudreau
  • production administration assistant
    Christine Williams
  • translator
    Wendell Metallic
    Gkisedtanamook
  • program administrator
    Marie Tonto-Donati
    Nickie Merulla
  • producer
    Alanis Obomsawin
  • executive producer
    Sally Bochner

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Education

Ages 15 to 17
School subjects
Geography - Territory: Indigenous Indigenous Studies - History/Politics Indigenous Studies - Identity/Society Social Studies - Law

Pre-teach the various disputes that have occurred between Indigenous peoples and the government historically, especially regarding land and fishing rights. A good companion film to this one is Incident at Restigouche, which explores similar confrontations with the law. Have students compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the two incidents. Discuss the government’s justification for their actions. After viewing both films, conduct a full discussion around Aboriginal rights.

Is the Crown at war with us?
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