Families
Art At Home LIVE | Film Screening: Spirit Bear and Children Make History
Wed Jul 28, 2021 | 4 PM
Vancouver Art Gallery
Courtesy of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society
Wednesday, July 28 | 4 PM
Presented in collaboration with the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, join us for a special screening of the stop-motion animated film, Spirit Bear and Children Make History. Following the screening, Family Programs Coordinator Christina Jones will be joined by the Gallery’s new Indigenous Programs Coordinator, Shadae Johnson, to discuss how everyone can get involved in the movement towards equity for First Nations families.
This digital program is designed for kids aged 5 to 12 and their families, but we welcome the participation of all ages and abilities.
Spirit Bear and Children Make History was produced by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society with Spotted Fawn Productions, led by Michif artist Amanda Strong, whose work is currently on view at the Gallery in Stories that animate us. The series of films is based on the Spirit Bear books, illustrated by Strong. In the film, the stories are brought to life using stop-motion animation, a process in which a series of photographs are woven together with sound and digital backgrounds to create a film.
The Caring Society is committed to honouring the transmission of knowledge through diverse formats, and they hope that these Spirit Bear films will help engage an even wider audience in the movement for equity for First Nations kids, while also honouring other important ways of teaching and learning such as storytelling and visual media.
Please note that this film addresses racial inequities and colonial harm, as well as advocacy for Jordan’s Principle.
Jordan’s Principle is a legal rule named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a First Nations child from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. Born with complex medical needs, Jordan spent more than two years unnecessarily in hospital, waiting to leave, while the Province of Manitoba and the federal government argued over who should pay for his at-home care—care that would have been paid for immediately had Jordan not been First Nations. Jordan died in hospital at the age of five years old, never having spent a day in a family home.
Learn more about Jordan’s Principle or submit a request for services through Jordan’s Principle here or call 1-855-JP-CHILD (1-855-572-4453).
Get involved! Submit your questions and comments during the presentation.
New to Zoom? Learn how to register and attend a webinar here »
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Spirit Bear and Children Make History Learning Guide »
Spirit Bear’s Guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action »
7 Free Ways to Make a Difference »
ABOUT SPIRIT BEAR
A member of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, Spirit Bear represents the 165,000 First Nations children impacted by the First Nations child welfare case at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, as well as the thousands of other children who have committed to learning about the case and have taken part in peaceful and respectful actions in support of reconciliation and equity.
Spirit Bear joined the Caring Society team in 2008 and immediately committed himself to witnessing all of the Tribunal hearings. In June 2017, Spirit Bear was awarded an honourary “Bearrister” degree from Osgoode Law School. In October 2017, he was officially admitted to the “Bear” by the Indigenous Bar Association.