Travelling filmmaking project sets out to inspire native youth

A group of young filmmakers are packing into a mobile studio and heading out to visit First Nations communities in Quebec to give young aboriginals a taste of the moviemaking life. The Wapikoni Mobile is headed to the Atikamekw communities of Pikogan, Kitcisakik and Lac Simon, and to the Algonquin communities of Wemotaci, Manawan and Opitciwan in southwestern Quebec.

Backed by digital cameras, professional editing equipment and a screening room, the five participating filmmakers will give the project’s young participants training in everything from screenwriting to directing to camera operation to film editing.

Funded by the National Film Board, the Wapikoni Mobile is the brainchild of filmmaker Manon Barbeau, who named the project after her friend Wapikoni Awashish, a young aboriginal leader who died in a car accident in 2002.

Barbeau hopes that this travelling film school will inspire native youth and give participants an outlet to explore their creativity.

“I think they are very talented, but shy because they don’t have the confidence and recognition from our community,” Barbeau said.

Wapikoni’s death was tragic because she had been very active in her community, Barbeau said, adding that she hopes the namesake project will help keep the young woman’s spirit alive.

Benoît Pelletier, Quebec’s minister of aboriginal affairs, who was on hand at the project launch, said he also hopes the project will give hope to aboriginal youth and share their work with non-native Canadians.

The short documentaries and video projects produced by participants will be screened in the mobile at the end of each two-week visit. These films will also be posted on the web.

With files from Jeanette Kelly, The Arts Report

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