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WaaPaKe

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World Premiere

WaaPaKe is a story about resilience, love and transformation. Examined through an Indigenous lens, the stories of residential school Survivor-Warriors and their families offer an understanding of both intergenerational trauma and healing. We are taken to a studio set-up in front of a green screen. Through compassionate, candid conversations, Jules Koostatchin shares interviews with five individuals, family and friends, that all directly or indirectly experienced intergenerational trauma. They tell of their survival, and the impacts felt throughout families and generations. The word “Waapake in swampy Cree means “tomorrow” and it’s used to signify how they move forward in a good way and work towards healing with each other, within families, and within the community around them. Thematically it is a powerful, courageous, and vulnerable documentary. WaaPaKe reflects where we are in Truth and Reconciliation in Canada after the unmarked graves, and offers hopeful and determined perspectives looking to the future.

 

October 1 & 4: Q&A with director Jules Arita Koostachin & crew

 

Presented by

Series Media Partner

Community Partner

Director
Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2023

Series

Insights

Language

In English and Cree with English subtitles

Film Contact
Content Warning

Depictions of Racism, Residential Schools, Sexual Language

PG
80 min
Documentary Human Rights & Social Justice

Book Tickets

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Credits

Executive Producer

Shirley Vercruysse

Producer

Teri Snelgrove

Screenwriter

Jules Arita Koostachin

Cinematography

Michael Bourquin

Editor

Jessica Dymond

Original Music

Justin Delorme

Director

Jules Arita Koostachin headshot

Photo by Karolina Turek

Jules Arita Koostachin

Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin (Attawapiskat) is an award-winning filmmaker, mother, and academic. Social justice themes emerge in her films, alongside bravery, healing, connection and humour. Jules honours her Cree-speaking grandparents who raised her, and her mother, a residential school Survivor/warrior. Jules is an alumni from Concordia’s Theatre program, including Toronto Metropolitan University’s Documentary Media masters program, receiving early recognition with an Award of Distinction and an Academic Gold Medal for her thesis documentary film, Remembering Inninimowin. Jules holds a Ph.D. in Indigenous documentary from UBC.

Filmography: Broken Angel (2023); Placenta (2012); Remembering Inninimowin (2010)

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