Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising (Dir. Shane Belcourt), when the youth take charge.

The film highlights the 1974 not-well-known story of a youth-led Indigenous land reclamation in Anicinabe Park in Kenora. For 40 days, 150 people took over the park to protest the never-ending mistreatment of Indigenous people. This occupation led the group to Ottawa as part of the Native Caravan, which was met at Parliament Hill with police violence, forcing them to end their peaceful demonstration.

There is only 8 minutes of archival footage of the occupation, however, filmmaker Shane Belcourt along with co-writer and journalist, Tanya Talaga worked alongside community members to give us a personal and more balanced story of those involved, the importance of this youth-led movement that still resonates in today’s world.

There have been movements across time to hold governments accountable for their mistreatment of Indigenous people in Canada over many decades. This film provides additional and much needed context about another part in this nation’s history. Definitely required viewing.

Leaving you with my interview with the film’s co-writer and producer Tanya Talaga.