Aboriginal filmmaker.

Writer, Alanis Obomsawin ; director, Alanis Obomsawin ; editor, Rita Roy ; camera, Roger Rochat ; location sound, Raymond Marcoux ; sound editor, Paul Demers ; voice recording, Christian Fortin ; re-recording, Jean-Pierre Joutel ; animation camera, Pierre Landry ; executive producer, Andy Thomson ; research, Alanis Obomsawin ; producer, Alanis Obomsawin, Marrin Canell, Robert Verrall.

Voice, Brian Eyahpaise ; participant, Roy Thomas, Ron Nabigon, Olivine Wood, Rachelle Seguin, Brian Roasting, Jonathan Minde.

Recorded 1987.

Just north of the City of Edmonton lies Poundmaker's Lodge, an addiction and mental-health facility specializing in treatment for Indigenous people. Founded in 1973 and still operational today, the Lodge's programs and services are Indigenous-run and based in culturally appropriate recovery and healing techniques. Framing the short documentary with the words of the great Plains Cree Chief Pîhtokahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker), Alanis Obomsawin presents a frank examination of the root causes of substance abuse in Indigenous communities and how the absence of love and support - exacerbated by the impacts of colonialism and racism - created a legacy of alcoholism for some individuals. Through searing and emotional testimonies of people in the Lodge, this work presents portraits of courage and perseverance, and hope for future generations.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Bronze Apple Award - Category: Health/Drug and Alcohol Addiction, 1989 Honorable Mention - Category: Health and Medicine / Addiction, Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco, 1988

Description based on online resource; title from title screen (National Film Board of Canada, viewed 2023-08-10).