http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2008/28/c5400.html
VANCOUVER, May 28 /CNW/ - Nisga'a Dancing in Both Worlds, a film documenting the historic journey of the Nisga'a people to achieve a modern-day treaty that secures their place in their traditional territory and protects their centuries-old culture, traditions and way of life has been recommended for use in BC secondary school classrooms by the British Columbia Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of Education approved Nisga'a Dancing in Both Worlds as a provincially recommended secondary educational resource for supplemental learning for Social Studies 8-11, BC First Nations Studies 12, Civic Studies12 and Law 12.
"Through Nisga'a Dancing in Both Worlds, the experiences of the Nisga'a people will enrich the learning of BC's students," said Minister of Education Shirley Bond. "The hard work, commitment, pride, and deep cultural heritage of the Nisga'a hold valuable lessons for all of us."
Each secondary school in the province will receive two copies of the DVD paid for by the Treaty Commission through a purchase agreement with the film-makers. The Ministry of Education covered the distribution costs.
The documentary tells the history of the Nisga'a people of the Nass Valley of British Columbia, profiling their epic 113-year struggle to secure a treaty with the governments of Canada and British Columbia. It depicts aboriginal history, rights and title, legal obligations and demonstrates the courage, determination and triumph of the Nisga'a people.
Nisga'a Lisims Government President Nelson Leeson, whose words gave rise to the title of the documentary, says the Nisga'a people aren't afraid to adapt. "We can dance and walk in both worlds."
The documentary Nisga'a Dancing in Both Worlds was produced in partnership by film-makers John Bassett and Rosalind Farber, with the funding and support of the BC Treaty Commission, the BC Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
"Working with the Nisga'a people and all those involved in the making of this DVD has been an exciting and rewarding experience," say Bassett and Farber. "We are especially thrilled this historic documentary will be included in the BC high school curriculum, and hope it may help young people to understand better the aboriginal experience."
A/Chief Commissioner Jody Wilson said, "This collaborative effort to see the Nisga'a nation story told in BC classrooms contributes to our understanding of the challenges First Nations face and ways in which they can address them and is in keeping with our mandate to provide educational resources in support of treaty making in this province."
Copies of the DVD can be obtained from Kinetic Video at 416-538-6613 or www.kineticvideo.com.
About the filmmakers
Beginning in 2003, film-makers John Bassett and Rosalind Farber made numerous trips to Nisga'a territory to document Nisga'a history and life since the Nisga'a treaty was signed in May 2000. Bassett initially financed the documentary, believing the remarkable Nisga'a story had to be told. Bassett has a list of credits including individual episodes of the award-winning documentary series A Planet for the Taking, part of CBC's The Nature of Things. Farber is a former producer of CBC productions MAN Alive and Take 30.
About the BC Treaty Commission
The Treaty Commission is the independent body responsible for overseeing treaty negotiations within the six-stage BC treaty process among the governments of Canada, BC and First Nations in BC. It has three roles: facilitation, funding and public information and education.
Established in 1992, the Treaty Commission comprises a provincial appointee, a federal appointee, two First Nations Summit appointees and a chief commissioner chosen by agreement of all three principals. For more information about the BC Treaty Commission or to view a clip of the video, please visit www.bctreaty.net.
For further information:
Brian Mitchell, Communications Manager, BC Treaty Commission,
(604) 482-9215 or (604) 788-5190, info@bctreaty.net
