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Mammals (37)
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Age of the BuffaloAustin Campbell 1964 14 minA vivid recollection of the free west of the North American Indigenous Peoples and the vast herds of buffalo that once thundered across the plains. From paintings of the mid-1800s, the animation camera creates a most convincing picture of the buffalo hunt, both as the Indigenous People and, disastrously, the white hunters practised it. -
AdventuresMichael Rubbo 1968 10 minThis short live-action film tells the story of little raccoon who encounters many adventures when he strays from home to explore the world.
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At the Caribou Crossing Place: Part 1Quentin Brown 1967 30 minFilmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kuugaruk.
In this episode, it is now early autumn. A woman works on caribou skins; men return from their hunt with another caribou; and a boy picks berries and then plays at being a hunter.
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At the Caribou Crossing Place: Part 2Quentin Brown 1967 29 minFilmed over a period of three years, from summer 1963 to the late winter of 1965, and released in 1967, the Netsilik series is about the traditional lifestyle of Netsilingmiut living in the area around Kuugaruk.
In this episode, two men join the camp. The men build a row of inuksuit to deflect the oncoming caribou into the water, where they are harvested and floated ashore. A great feast follows.
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Beaver People1928 13 minA short silent film about famous conservationist Grey Owl (born Archibald Belaney) and his wife, Anahareo, who had a special talent for interacting with beavers. Note: The beavers in the film may be Grey Owl's pets, Jellyroll and Rawhide.
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Beaver Family1931 14 minA short silent film portraying Grey Owl, the famous conservationist, and a family of beavers who would come when he called and take food from his hand without the slightest fear. The film is set in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba. The story of Grey Owl's life was the subject of a 1999 feature film starring Pierce Brosnan.
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Beaver DamF.R. Crawley 1960 15 minThe great appeal of this film is watching the beaver at work, busily and cheerfully demonstrating the characteristics for which it is famous. Sometimes, however, the beaver's industry runs counter to the plans of people. When the beaver's dam floods their father's hayfield, two boys devise a plan to save the beaver from their father's displeasure.
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Being CaribouLeanne Allison & Diana Wilson 2004 1 h 12 minIn this feature-length documentary, husband and wife team Karsten Heuer (wildlife biologist) and Leanne Allison (environmentalist) follow a herd of 120,000 caribou on foot across 1500 km of Arctic tundra. In following the herd's migration, the couple hopes to raise awareness of the threats to the caribou's survival. Along the way they brave Arctic weather, icy rivers, hordes of mosquitoes and a very hungry grizzly bear. Dramatic footage and video diaries combine to provide an intimate perspective of an epic expedition.
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Being CaribouLeanne Allison & Diana Wilson 2004 54 minIn this feature-length documentary, husband and wife team Karsten Heuer (wildlife biologist) and Leanne Allison (environmentalist) follow a herd of 120,000 caribou on foot across 1500 km of Arctic tundra. In following the herd's migration, the couple hopes to raise awareness of the threats to the caribou's survival. Along the way they brave Arctic weather, icy rivers, hordes of mosquitoes and a very hungry grizzly bear. Dramatic footage and video diaries combine to provide an intimate perspective of an epic expedition.
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BalakrishnaColin MacKenzie & Aparna Kapur 2019 15 minWhen an extraordinary new resident – Balakrishna, an Indian elephant – arrived in the town of East River, Nova Scotia, in 1967, no one was more in awe of the creature than young Winton Cook, who became inseparable from his mammoth new friend. Using painterly animation, photographs and home-movie treasures, Balakrishna transmits the wistfulness of childhood memories, while evoking themes of friendship and loss, and issues of immigration and elephant conservation.
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Cry of the WildBill Mason 1972 1 h 28 minThis feature-length documentary from Bill Mason imparts his affection for the big northern timber wolves and the pure-white Arctic wolves. Filmed over three years in the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, the High Arctic and his home near the Gatineau Hills in Quebec, Mason sets out to dispel the myth of the bloodthirsty wolf. Going beyond the wolf's natural habitat, Mason relocated three young wolves to his own property and was able to film tribal customs, mating and birth. As a result, Cry of the Wild offers viewers access to moments in wildlife never before seen on film.
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Caribou of Northern Canada1971 13 minThis nature documentary looks at the Barren Ground caribou of Canada's vast northern tundra. This film observes the life cycle and environment of the caribou.
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CorralColin Low 1954 11 minWestern ballads played on guitar are the only sounds used in this romantic portrait of a cowboy. He rounds up wild horses, lassoing one of the high-spirited animals in the corral, and then goes for a glorious plunging ride across the spectacular Rocky Mountain foothills of Alberta.
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Death of a LegendBill Mason 1971 49 minThis documentary film by Bill Mason is about wolves and the negative myths surrounding the animal. Exceptional footage portrays the wolf's life cycle and the social organization of the pack, as well as other film of caribou, moose, deer and buffalo. Mason later made a feature documentary on wolves (Cry of the Wild, 1973) that played theatrically throughout North America and earned $5 million at the box office.
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Eye Witness No. 501953 11 minThe Glass Makers: One of the most exacting jobs in glass manufacture, the production of sheet glass, is shown in various stages from the pouring of raw materials to the slicing of three-storey-high sheets in a Toronto factory. Return of the Beaver: A government-inspired conservation project pays off for the Indigenous Peoples (Amos, James Bay area), who can again trap the once-depleted beaver population. Uranium City: A "uranium rush," reminiscent of the Trail of Ninety-Eight, is changing a wilderness area of northern Saskatchewan into a mushrooming industrial development.
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Eye Witness No. 87.Walter A. Sutton & Alvin Goldman 1955 11 minWinter Dogs Days: The fourth annual dog derby at Maniwaki, Québec, brings racing teams from different parts of eastern Canada and the United States to compete for honours on the twenty-mile snow-bound course. Steelworkers Go To Press: One of Stelco Steel's ten thousand employees in Hamilton, Cecil Lewis doubles as editor of Steel Shots, a monthly paper reporting on union aims and off-work activities.
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The Great Buffalo SagaMichael McKennirey & Boyce Richardson 1985 55 minBy the late 1800s the free-ranging buffalo of the western plains of North America were almost extinct. This documentary is the story of the buffalo's revival. Live action, eye-witness accounts and archival photos document our fascination with this ancient and legendary animal.
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Horses of SuffieldNick Bakyta 1998 46 minThis documentary explores the fate of the endangered wild Suffield horses of Alberta. Located near a military base close to Medicine Hat, these animals were originally domesticated but returned to the wild over generations. These horses face endangerment because of their growing numbers and the limitations of their environment.
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Hinterland Who's Who: Grizzly1972 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland Who’s Who series introduces viewers to the grizzly bear.
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Hinterland Who's Who: Woodchuck1972 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland Who's Who series introduces viewers to the woodchuck, also known as a ground hog. From eating habits to mating schedules, a great deal about this large rodent is revealed in under 60 seconds.
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Hinterland Who's Who: The Polar Bear1973 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland Who's Who series introduces viewers to the polar bear, one of the largest bears in North America. See first-hand how they swim, hunt, and raise their cubs.
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Hinterland Who's Who: The Musk Ox1973 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland Who's Who series introduces viewers to the musk ox, relative of the sheep and goat. They live in the most remote regions of the far North, and are now considered a protected species.
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Hinterland Who's Who: Red Fox1967 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland Who’s Who series provides an introduction to the red fox.
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Hinterland Who's Who: Black Bear1978 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland Who’s Who series introduces viewers to the black bear.
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Hinterland Who's Who: Moose1963 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland Who’s Who series introduces viewers to the moose.
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Hinterland Who's Who: Caribou1967 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland Who’s Who series provides an introduction to the caribou.
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Hinterland Who's Who: The Raccoon1978 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland Who’s Who series introduces viewers to the raccoon.
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Hinterland Who's Who: Bighorn Sheep1969 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland’s Who’s Who series is an introduction to the bighorn sheep.
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Hinterland Who's Who: The Bison1973 1 minThis very short documentary from the Hinterland Who's Who series introduces viewers the bison.
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Lords of the ArcticCaroline Underwood & Jean Lemire 2003 52 minThis documentary by award-winning filmmaker Caroline Underwood focuses on Northern wildlife and its close and tragic relation to climate change, which affects all of the Arctic's fragile ecosystems. The example of the polar bear, studied by biologists for the past 20 years, is revealing. Scientists are also concerned about the precarious situation of bowhead whales and belugas, not to mention seals, walruses and many species of birds. Are the lords of the Arctic in danger of ending their reign over their kingdom of ice and snow?
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The Man Who Talks with WolvesCarlos Ferrand 2001 52 minIn the wilderness of northern Quebec, Michel and Louise Pageau devote their lives to caring for injured wild animals and returning them to their natural habitat. Some animals simply cannot make it in the wild any more, so the Pageaus opened a shelter - the Pageau Refuge - for animals that cannot be released.
Michel Pageau has been interested in animals since childhood. A former trapper and hunter, he has a gift for making contact with wild creatures. Pageau feels a particular connection with wolves - and for several years he has maintained a friendship with a number of them, based on mutual trust. Their level of communication is astonishing. When Michel calls, the wolves respond. At one point, Michel is distressed because their rapport seems to have broken down. Ché-Cché, the head of the pack, will not let him approach. Can Michel rebuild their relationship?
With stunning images and poetic narration, The Man Who Talks with Wolves takes us into a mysterious world where the line between human and beast becomes blurred. -
Project GrizzlyPeter Lynch 1996 1 h 12 minIn this feature-length documentary, Troy James Hurtubise goes face to face with Canada's most deadly land mammal, the grizzly bear. Troy is the creator of what he hopes is a grizzly-proof suit, and he repeatedly tests his armour – and courage – in stunts that are both hair-raising and hilarious. Directed by Peter Lynch, the film has become a cult classic in the United States and is rumoured to be a favourite of director Quentin Tarantino.
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Return of the Swift FoxJy Chiperzak 1988 26 minThe swift fox is one of the many lost species that has suffered from the cultivation of the prairie grasslands. An innovative program has been implemented to reintroduce the swift fox into its original habitat in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Documenting the history and human misuse of this fragile ecosystem, this short film illustrates the precious balance between human and wildlife use of the environment.
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RatopolisGilles Thérien 1973 56 minA study of the wily brown rat, humankind's unwanted companion throughout the world, whose bite on the world's food resources adds to the growing threat of shortage. In a normal, free-ranging environment, the rat is more than a match for its hosts and colonies flourish. Under abnormal conditions of restricted space and limited food, a rat colony loses all 'social' constraints on behaviour. The film has implicit analogies for all animal behaviour, including humanity's. Plagues, predators and extermination attempts are among the topics discussed.
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Secretariat's Jockey, Ron TurcottePhil Comeau 2013 1 h 14 minThis feature-length documentary tells the story of jockey Ron Turcotte, who, along with his legendary horse Secretariat, won the prestigious American Triple Crown in 1973. Follow along as we witness Turcotte’s rise to fame, the fall in 1978 that left him a paraplegic and his emotional journey back to the people and places that marked his life. This is a road movie that delves deep into the thrilling and dangerous world of horseracing, featuring never-before-seen footage of Secretariat and appearances by Triple Crown winners Steve Cauthen and Jean Cruguet.
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Wild in the CityGordon Fish 1985 16 minThis short documentary films some of the wild animal species that have adapted to the city of Vancouver, from the familiar pigeons and starlings to the less familiar herons nesting in Stanley Park and a coyote in a farmer's field.
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Wolf PackBill Mason 1974 19 minFilmed by Bill Mason in caribou country, this nature film closely observes wolves through late winter into early spring. Wolf Pack shows this creature’s character, behaviour and life cycle. What emerges is a portrait of the wolf as a disciplined hunter, respected leader and committed parent.
