KASHECHEWAN PROJECT MOVES FORWARD

Jim Hyder, who provides the lead to Sky Works activities in Northern Ontario, reports that the Kashechewan community development project gained new momentum during an October visit to the First Nations community on the James Bay coast. In partnership with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), the project assists community members (especially young people) to develop film and video skills that they can use to tell their own stories, in their own voices. Until now their stories have been told primarily by outside media and have focused on the bleakest issues with which Kashechewan and other Nishnawbe Aski communities struggle.

In October, Jim along with Carol Rolland, who has worked for NAN in Thunder Bay and works with the community development aspects of the project, provided six days of technical instruction in basic filming and editing techniques to a group of eager young filmmakers. The young people then produced short films dealing with topics that ranged from a day of duck hunting to the impact of Treaty 9 (the original treaty with the government of Canada that defines the life experience of all Nishnawbe Aski people), to a traditional native spirituality retreat and “Voices”, reflecting the interests and talents of a group of school students.

“It’s very tough up there,” Jim admits, describing the difficult development process with which Kashechewan constantly struggles. “The kids who we are working with have really taken on our documentary work. There is now a core group who are working hard and learning a lot. Ruth Stadelmayer, their teacher has kept the project going at the school. It’s a community coping with many problems and our hope is that this project can help people see the strength and talent that exist there.“