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Trick or Treaty?

Directed by Alanis Obomsawin
Canada, 2014 (documentary, 84 minutes, colour, Cree / English)
Also known as "Ruse ou traité?"
Trick or Treaty?
Image: © National Film Board of Canada

Film Description:
"[Trick or Treaty?] follows the journey of Indigenous leaders in their quest for justice as they seek to establish dialogue with the Canadian government. By tracing the history of their ancestors since the signing of Treaty No. 9, they want to raise people's awareness about the issues that concern them: respect for and protection of their lands and their natural resources, and the right to hunt and fish so that their society can prosper. In recent years, an awareness-raising movement has been surfacing in the communities: conferences on the Treaty's signing, the Idle No More movement, Cree Chief Theresa Spence's hunger strike, the 1,600-km trek to the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa by David Kawapit and those who joined him. In her film, Alanis Obomsawin gives those who refuse to surrender a chance to speak out. Indigenous youth are mobilizing in increasing numbers to put an end to inertia."
-- National Film Board of Canada (source)

Film Credits (partial):
Written by: Alanis Obomsawin
Produced by: Alanis Obomsawin, Annette Clarke
Narrator: Alanis Obomsawin
Cinematography: René Sioui Labelle, Philippe Amiguet, Michael Darby
Film Editing: Alison Burns
Music: Alain Auger
Production Company: National Film Board of Canada / Office national du film du Canada
(sources)

Notes about Trick or Treaty?

(sources)

Quote by the Director

"The history of our country has not been told. For so many years, they had a history book about Canada at the primary school level that was really horrifying, designed to create hate for our people. It's terrible what's been done in terms of our history, so for me, it's very important to educate."
-- Alanis Obomsawin (source)

Bibliography for Trick or Treaty?

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