Director's Note

In between oil-rich Calgary where I live and the tourist town of Banff, there is an Indian reserve. The first time I visited it I was shocked by the broken down homes, the levels of addiction, and the lack of basic infrastructure. How is it possible that we have such levels of poverty in the middle of a land of wealth?

However, I had no aboriginal friends to ask about the situation. The few interactions I did have through media or on the streets were generally not positive. And like many Canadians, my grasp of the history was superficial. I decided I had to learn more. So I headed on a road trip across traditional Blackfoot territory with Cowboy Smithx as my guide and a film crew for documentation.

Elder in the Making is my personal way of exploring the forces of history large and small that has led us to where we are now. It is an invitation for you to connect with a rich and diverse aboriginal culture that has much to share about our home and about our relationship with the land.

The film is only a small start on a long road of reconciliation. Below you will find other ways to engage such as face-to-face workshops, educational material, and resources. Reconciliation is a multi-generational affair that requires an on-going repair and renewal of a relationship with the people that helped build our country. It is my hope that you can be a part of it.

– Chris Hsiung, Producer and Director

Get Educational License

Elder in the Making is a film that crosses many disciplines and curriculum. History, music, ecology, indigenous stories, and questions of identity and the meaning of becoming an elder are integrated together.  Purchase an educational license where you will get the film divided into six episodes for easy presentation in the classroom. In addition, receive curriculum support material, bonus material and resources as they are developed.

Organize a Screening

This film gives audiences a starting point for discussing the troubled and hopeful relationship between First Nations, settlers and newcomers.  Consider organizing a public screening. Contact us for details how to go about it.

Request a Workshop

We also offer half-day and full-day workshops where participants will have a chance learn more about the stories behind Elder in the Making and get into in-depth conversations on topics ranging from the numbered treaties to residential school. Contact us for more information.