The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more
Skip to content Accessibility
New release
Coming 
None

Sigwan

2005 12 min
Leaving soon

Sigwan tells the touching story of a young girl who is comforted and counselled by the animals of the forest. Written and directed by distinguished filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin, the film addresses issues of exclusion and prejudice that exist within many communities worldwide. Visually breathtaking and in High-Definition, Sigwan is a simple, transformative parable of acceptance.

This content is not available for free viewing in your location.
Your rental expires on
None
You've already purchased this film.
Download it from My purchases.
Not available
Share
Sigwan

Details

Sigwan tells the touching story of a young girl who is comforted and counselled by the animals of the forest. Written and directed by distinguished filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin, the film addresses issues of exclusion and prejudice that exist within many communities worldwide. Visually breathtaking and in High-Definition, Sigwan is a simple, transformative parable of acceptance.

Indigenous Peoples in Canada (First Nations and Métis) All subjects
Indigenous Cinema
  • conceptor
    Alanis Obomsawin
  • writer
    Alanis Obomsawin
  • director
    Alanis Obomsawin
  • editor
    Alison Burns
  • camera
    Philippe Amiguet
  • location sound
    Raymond Marcoux
  • original music
    Francis Grandmont
  • musician
    Francis Grandmont
    Jean-Félix Mailloux-Desjardins
    Claude Vendette
  • traditional chant
    Ambroise Obomsawin
  • cast
    Sylvi-Anne Siouï Trudel
    Sigwanis Lachapelle
    Guillaume Wawanolet
    Sophy Wawanolet
    Sébastien Gill
    Pierre-Luc Grenier
    Louis Msadoques
    Steve Obomsawin
    Fabrice Hannis Grandmont
    Mylène Trudeau
    Dawn Obomsawin
    Kevin Cloutier
    Charles Gariépy
    Mathieu Obomsawin Gauthier
    Alanis Obomsawin
    Rodrigo Brinckhaus
  • voice-over
    Sandra Laronde
    Wiingushk-Kwe Teekens
    Gary Farmer
    Michelle St-John
    Darrell Dennis
  • theatre masks
    Sylvie Trudel
  • masks
    Elaheh Mottahedeh
  • costumes
    Annie Alexander
  • moccasins
    Carolyn Cote
  • still photograph
    André Gill
  • animation
    Benoît Chagnon
  • English translation
    Janet Chapman
  • sound editor
    Leopoldo Gutierrez
  • digital editing technician
    Chaz Oliver
  • foley
    Stéphane Cadotte
  • foley recording
    Luc Léger
  • music recording
    Geoffrey Mitchell
    Sylvain Cajelais
  • titles
    Louise Overy
  • online editing
    Denis Pilon
  • props assistant
    Rodrigo Brinckhaus
  • production assistant
    Lysanne Obomsawin
  • re-recording
    Shelley Craig
  • technician sound operation centre
    Daniel Trépanier
    Sylvain Cajelais
  • administration
    Marie Tonto-Donati
    Nickie Merulla
  • production administration assistant
    Christine Williams
  • post-production coordinator
    Claude Cardinal
    Linda Payette
  • producer
    Alanis Obomsawin
  • executive producer
    Sally Bochner

Enjoy the NFB experience on your favourite device

Roku Apple TV Fire TV Android TV Apple App Store Google Play Store

Education

Ages 8 to 16
School subjects
Ethics and Religious Culture - Ethical Values Indigenous Studies - Issues and Contemporary Challenges
How does filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin go about depicting exclusion and prejudice? Does the representation of the circle among Canada’s First Peoples turn up in other cultures? If yes, name those peoples, and explain the significance of the circle in each of them. (The teacher should compare students’ answers.) How does Obomsawin illustrate the relationships between humans and animals from the Native perspective? What can we learn from the parable about recognition?
Sigwan
Purchase options
Also available
DVD

Explore