Beginning on Thursday, September 23, the Lorenzo Society, UNB-SRC, and Eastern Circle Saint John are hosting a film festival that will screen three different Indigenous films at different locations until November 25.
According to the Dean of Arts Heidi MacDonald, there will be a discussion panel after all projections. “Dr. Debra Lindsay, Dr. Joe Galbo, Todd Ross (UNBSJ Indigenous Student Advisor), and representatives of Eastern Circle will moderate the post-film discussion”, she said.
Although admittance is free for all viewings, donations will be accepted for Eastern Circle SJ, a local Indigenous group that provides education, advocacy, and support for allies and Indigenous peoples.
The Films
This month’s film will be “Reel Injuun” by the Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond. The film explores the portrayal of North American Indigenous people in Hollywood.
The film scheduled for October is “Blood Quantum” by Jeff Barnaby, which is about the isolated Mi’kmaq reserve of Red Crow surviving a zombie plague that has taken over the world, with its inhabitants being immune to the plague.
“Dawnland” by Adam Mazo and Ben Pender-Cudlip, the film programmed for November, tells the behind-the-scenes story of the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Maine, USA which investigated the child welfare authorities removing Indigenous children from their homes.
Where to view the films
The three movies will be screened on campus but also at different locations across the city.
“Reel Injun” will be projected on September 23 and 24. The first screening will be at UNB Saint John in Ganong Hall lecture theatre and the second will be at Lily Lake Pavilion in Rockwood Park. Both projections will be at 7:30 p.m.
The projections in October are on the 26th and the 28th, both at 7:30 p.m. On October 26, it will be at UNB in Ganong Hall lecture theatre, while on October 28 it will be at the Imperial Theatre.
The last film will be screened on November 23 and 25. The projection on November 23 will again be in the Ganong Hall lecture theatre at 7:30 p.m., and the one on November 25 will be at the Saint John Public Library in Market Square at 6 p.m.
Any questions can be directed to lorenzo@unb.ca.
