In this feature-length documentary, Indigenous filmmaker and artist Alanis Obomsawin chronicles the determination and tenacity of the Listuguj Mi'kmaq people to use and manage the natural resources of their traditional lands. The film provides a contemporary perspective on the Mi'kmaq people's ongoing struggle and ultimate success, culminating in the community receiving an award for Best Managed River from the same government that had denied their traditional rights.
In this feature-length documentary, Indigenous filmmaker and artist Alanis Obomsawin chronicles the determination and tenacity of the Listuguj Mi'kmaq people to use and manage the natural resources of their traditional lands. The film provides a contemporary perspective on the Mi'kmaq people's ongoing struggle and ultimate success, culminating in the community receiving an award for Best Managed River from the same government that had denied their traditional rights.
Before watching Part 2 of the video (66 min), predict the outcome. Role play a negotiation between an Indigenous group and government officials. Contrast the Mi’kmaq attitude toward the environment with that of the non-Indigenous in the film. What do you think the Mi’kmaq can or will accomplish in the next 20 years? Discuss the concept and legitimacy of ancestral rights, as well as the complications faced by the government in recognizing them.