The ʔaq’am community hosted Empowered Filmmaker as part of a five-day master class to teach residents the ins and outs of filmmaking.
The event was capped by a screening at ʔaq̓amnik̓ Elementary School on Sunday to show off their work.
“Our participants were there with their families and loved ones. I couldn’t have envisioned it being as powerful as it was,” said Farhan Umedaly, Empowered Filmmaker lead instructor.
“We like to do these interactively, so everyone shares what they liked, how they felt, some personal stories and words of encouragement. It all happened in a very beautiful way.”
Empowered Filmmaker is an indigenous-focused film production program created by VoVo Productions in partnership with Telus Storyhive.
“Participants go from key messaging, to storyboarding, to camera work, interviewing, visual effects editing to the final cut,” said Umedaly.
“We have a filmmaker in five days. It’s not just learning filmmaking, they make a film in five days with their own voice and their own story. We just provide the support.”
Umedaly said visual storytelling through film can be an effective and creative form of Indigenous activism.
“It’s so rewarding to see someone step into a position to become an asset to their community. Especially with youth who connect with elders and work to restore language and culture,” said Umedaly.
“Often I’ve seen it become somewhat of a healing journey for people who had a difficult time drawing a line between their past and their future of helping others by putting their story out there.”
Empowered Filmmaker was launched in 2017 thanks to a Telus Storyhive grant, and trained over 430 filmmakers to produce 130 films.
“The whole purpose of me applying for that grant was to create capacity in Indigenous communities so they could tell the stories they needed to tell,” said Umedaly.
“My family came here as refugees and I want to be able to earn my right to be here and I want to be friends with Indigenous communities. There’s too much separation between the people who live here and Indigenous people who have a beautiful culture that has been pushed down for generations.”
Umedaly hopes to come back to ʔaq’am and the East Kootenay to help create more filmmakers.
“We were personally invited back by the chief of ʔaq’am and their family made an epic film about the history of the St. Eugene Mission,” said Umedaly.
“The talent in the community is unbelievable and it’s something we would all benefit from supporting. I would love to come back, and since we’ve been invited, I’m sure it will happen.”
You can see some of the films here or on YouTube.
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