The Klabona Keepers is one of the most popular, sold-out films we’ve shown in the VIFF Ignite high school program. This film is a fierce, hopeful account of the Tahltan Nation’s struggle to protect the Klabona Sacred Headwaters, an important natural habitat in northwest British Columbia, from commercial mining. The documentary, which premiered at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in 2022, intersperses verité cinematography with intimate interviews. It is an in-depth account of the different methods of resistance used by Indigenous elders, which include blockades and tense stand-offs with police and mining industry workers. Powerful moments of reflection are felt throughout the film as the trauma of residential schools and forced relocations are brought to light.
In an ongoing struggle against colonization, the film is continuing a long tradition of filmmakers who have documented Indigenous land defenders, such as Alanis Obomsawin’s Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, and Nettie Wild’s Blockade. This film project is a collaboration between non-Indigenous filmmakers and Indigenous elders, who were given ownership of the intellectual property, with all proceeds from the film going towards youth programming at the Klabona Sacred Headwaters.
Supported by
Canada
2022
English
Residential Schools, Drug & Alcohol Abuse
Education Resources
Primary Curriculum Interests:
- BC First Peoples 12
- Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12
- Social Studies 9, 10, 11
- Social Justice 12
- Political Studies 12
- Environmental Science 11 + 12
- Human Geography 12
Other Curriculum Interests:
- Media 10
- Film and Television 11
- English First Peoples New Media 11 + 12
Credits & Director
Producer
Rhoda Quock
Screenwriter
Bertha Louie, Rita Louie, Rhoda Quock, Mary Quock, Tamo Campos, Jasper Snow-Rosen
Cinematography
Tamo Campos, Jasper Snow-Rosen
ANIM
Michael Mann, Huey Carlick, Peter Jakesta, Rhoda Quock
Editor
Tamo Campos, Jasper Snow-Rosen
Tamo Campos
Tamo Campos is a filmmaker, impact practitioner, community organizer, and extreme sports athlete. His films include The Klabona Keepers (2022), Ru-Tsu (2020), The Radicals (2018), A Last Stand For Lelu (2016), Northern Grease (2013), and over fifty shorts. Campos embeds himself in the community wherever he goes, and is dedicated to combining social impact with his adventures in sport, activism, and filmmaking. His previous projects have had a strong outreach focus that collaborated deeply with participants within his films. His work has focused on Indigenous land defense, Indigenous health models, climate justice, and anti-racism.
Filmography: Northern Grease (2013)
Jasper Snow-Rosen
Jasper Snow Rosen grew up in the southern gulf islands with a family dedicated to youth outdoor education, respecting the land, and being a part of a strong local community. Snow Rosen’s love for the outdoors has had him exploring the coast by kayak, surfing, mountaineering, and facilitating youth programs to give the up-and-coming generation a reason to protect what we have. He has been involved in direct action to advocate for social and environmental justice and helping to lift voices from the front lines through filmmaking.
Filmography: Northern Grease (2013)
In-Cinema & Online
Date |
Time |
Venue |
| November 6 | 9:30 am | VIFF Centre, Vancity Theatre |
| November 13 | 12:30 pm | VIFF Centre, Vancity Theatre |
| November 20* | 10:30 am* | VIFF Centre, Vancity Theatre |
| November 6-22 | N/A | VIFF Connect (Online) |
*This screening is sold out. If you would like to join the waitlist, select the waitlist option in the booking form below.
How to Book
Free for schools, capacity for all films is limited. To book, submit your request with the online form below. Our Ignite team will respond to confirm availability and complete your booking.
Questions? Contact our Ignite team at [email protected]