qathet film society presents
3 Ears Indigenous Film Festival

My Name is Wolastoq

My Name is Wolastoq

Sunday October 1 — 1:30 pm

With panel discussion following the movie

Directed by Nate Gaffney
Film screening organized by Story, Money, Impact
44min
2022
Documentary

Told from the Point of View of the river itself, My Name is Wolastoq, is a journey of identity that shares the history and stories of the Wolastoq River, and of the Wolastoqi people who were the first to call it home in the pre-contact world, and who continue to live and be sustained by it today.

Through first-hand interviews the Chiefs, elders, and activists of the Wolastoq will share the stories of the creation and history of the river, including how it has sustained and connected their people for thousands of years, and how the name was changed by early European settlement and colonization. A mix of animation, archival images, and new footage will provide the visuals to their oral storytelling.

The film also follows the self-discovery journey of Riley Gaffney, a young man who is part Indigenous but has grown up off-reserve and struggles with how to embrace his identity and where he belongs. He will connect with the elders who share cultural wisdom, experiences, and ceremonies with him that also allow viewers a window and understanding into the teachings and traditions of New Brunswick’s first people.

The film explores themes of identity, culture, family, acceptance, colonization, systemic racism, and reconciliation. It is an education and call to action to the viewer from the river herself, and her people.