No reconciliation with the first peoples is possible if no relationship is first established with the majority, believes Abenaki director Kim O’Bomsawin. His series let us tell reaches out by inviting viewers to listen to what the 11 Aboriginal peoples of Quebec have to say about themselves and our common history.
The scope of the series let us tell translates into impressive figures: four years of work, from research to editing, 75 days of filming, a hundred protagonists from around 30 villages and communities. “All of this makes it possible to present a series where, for the first time, people from the 11 first peoples of Quebec will respond to each other and give a sincere portrait of who we are,” said director Kim O’Bomsawin during a conference. release to introduce the series.
IMAGE FROM THE DOCUMENTARY LET US TELL
Scene from the documentary let us tell
His series, divided into four episodes, offers a vast and intimate portrait of the first peoples who, for a rare time, have the opportunity to tell history and their stories from their point of view. “It’s a heartfelt series where there are no experts,” continues the Abenaki director. The experts are the people. »
The first episode focuses on the territory and underlines the importance it has politically, but also intimately for the first peoples as nature is part of their identity.
“Everything around us is alive. Everything around us deserves respect, ”recalls host and actor Brad Gros-Louis in the documentary, which will also talk about culture, identity and “reparation”.
Before the arrival of Jacques Cartier, the first peoples lived together on this territory which nourished them. “Our ancestors never worked with a type to be measured,” says Éloïse Tremblay (Innu), who is taking part in the documentary. Colonization not only undermined the cohabitation and collaboration between the different communities, it also dispossessed them of their living environments, to the point of confining them to reserves.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Kim O’Bomsawin
What emerges, despite everything, is not resentment. Rather the promotion of the spirit of sharing which animated and continues to animate the first peoples. “We don’t put on rose-colored glasses: we go to places that have hurt our people very badly, but we focus more on what we are in the process of reclaiming,” says Kim O’Bomsawin. It’s a series that celebrates our cultures, but also our resistance and that demonstrates that our voices deserve to be heard, that we have a lot to contribute to society. »
The desire to shed light was imposed not only to counterbalance the media discourse which generally emphasizes the problems of the first peoples, but also because it reflects what she observes in the communities. “They are welcoming people, who invite us to eat, to share, to tell stories,” she says. It is this access that I want to give people. »
To be heard
Like Kim O’Bomsawin, Quentin Condo, who appears in let us tell, notes a rebirth of the first peoples in Quebec. He believes that this is one of the positive effects of the Internet and the emergence of social networks, which allow citizens from the first peoples to speak on their behalf without going through the filter of traditional media. “We have a chance [de se faire entendre] “, he rejoices, in a press conference. Especially since he has the feeling that people are curious about their stories.
Kim O’Bomsawin also believes that it is by “rectifying history” that racism and prejudice against the first peoples will eventually end.
The spirit of the times seems to her to be favorable to the establishment of a dialogue: she perceives openness both among non-natives and among natives. “Our communities are at a fairly advanced stage of healing. They are focused on the future, she notes. The pride of being a member of the first peoples has returned. »
And more and more voices are being heard in the various artistic fields as well as in politics. In the last provincial elections, there were a record number of candidates from the first peoples and, for the very first time, Quebec has a minister with Aboriginal roots: Kateri Champagne Jourdain, on whom the director has great hopes.
One of the priorities, according to Kim O’Bomsawin, is the protection of indigenous languages. “Mr. Legault promised us a law 101, it’s urgent,” she said. I don’t think there is anyone better than Quebecers to understand this. […] I hope M.me Jourdain will tackle the question. I have a lot of expectations, that’s for sure. »
let us tellSaturdays at 9 p.m., on ICI Télé from November 19