Nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up Win’s Canadian Screen Award.
Congratulations to our relatives who recently won the, 2020, Ted Rogers, Best Feature Length Documentary award. The winners were announced Monday night via streaming due to COVID-19 social restrictions.
The TFCA’s Rogers Best Canadian Film Award is Canada’s richest arts prize. The director of the winning film, voted by members of the TFCA, receives $100,000 from Rogers Communications Inc. The two runners-up each receive $5,000.
Although the winning of the award is very positive indeed, the documentary itself steps into some pretty dark water. The documentary follows the trial and the death of Colton Boushie.
Contents
Plot.
Directed by Tasha Hubbard, nîpawistamâsowin which translates to We Will Stand Up in the Cree language follows the death of a young Cree man named Colten Boushie who died from a gunshot to the back of his head on August 9, 2016, after entering Gerald Stanley’s rural property with his friends.
The jury’s subsequent acquittal of Stanley captured international attention, raising questions about racism embedded within Canada and Canada’s legal system.
The death of the young 22-year-old propelled Colten’s family to national and international stages in their pursuit of justice. Sensitively directed by Tasha Hubbard, nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up weaves a heartfelt narrative encompassing the filmmaker’s own adoption, the distinct history of colonialism on the Prairies, and a metamorphic vision of a future where First Nations children can live safely on their homelands.
Film Locations
Although the death of Colton Boushie took place just outside of North Battleford Saskatchewan, Canada the film itself was filmed in various locations across Canada and even in part os the United States.
The Locations of the film include Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, Red Pheasant First Nation, Saskatchewan, Canada Ottawa, Canada, New York City, New York, USA Vancouver, Canada, and Thunderchild First Nation, Saskatchewan, Canada.
A very triggering film and has a wide variety of responses some good and some really bad, but the fact remains that the racism that indigenous people face in Canada is a discussion that defiantly needs to have some light shed upon and Nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up does a very good job on doing that.
Even watching the trailer I am filled with a tremendous wave of emotions. I’m sure much of you had the same feelings as well. I understand why the film won the 2020 TFCA’s Rogers Best Canadian Film Award.
