Our Stories, Our Identities

Visit Our Stories, Our Identities Website | View PDF

In 2010, Aboriginal youth were invited to attend a series of culturally relevant gatherings, planned and organized by an Aboriginal Youth Advisory Committee, where they reflect on and explore their stories on videotape.
Youth were able to come and learn more about an issue that affects them. Elders, leaders and community members who can speak to each issue will told their stories and how they have healed through cultural connections, in particular through storytelling and sharing.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• alcohol/substance abuse
• identity
• the inter-generational effect of residential schools
• foster care/adoption
• suicide

Additional gatherings were for youth to show their work and get feedback from experts in filmmaking and fellow participants.
At the end of the project, youth completed a short video story. Three of the videos were showcased at the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival in November 2010 to a live youth audience of approximately 300 and an online audience of youth from across Canada. Youth will be invited to participate in a Q & A along withe their mentors after the screening of their film.

Our Stories, Our Identities at WAFF 2011 – WAFF’ s 10th Anniversary Festival
16 films were completed in total during the 2010 Our Stories, Our Identities project. Three of those films premiered at WAFF 2010, and now the remaining thirteen films will be showcased at WAFF 2011 to a live youth audience at Youth Education Days (Nov. 17 & 18, 2011 @ U of W), and the films will also be screened at the festival itself. Click here for screening times.

The Our Stories, Our Identities films are powerful, moving and inspiring. They demand to be seen by a wider audience. These Aboriginal youth filmmakers have created a group of sixteen short films that are diverse, creative and exceptional.