This event, rich in creativity and sharing, was part of a collective effort to document Indigenous legal systems using audiovisual tools.
Guided by the wise insights of Innu elder Grégoire Canapé and led by filmmaker and film professor Daniel Brière from Odanak's Kiuna College, participants explored the wealth of Indigenous knowledge through two days of discussions. Mr. Brière provided practical tools for identifying themes and methods suited to documentary production. By the workshop's conclusion, two projects had taken shape, highlighting the resilience of Indigenous cultures and their intrinsic connection to the land as a source of legal principles.
“It was inspiring! The students, all so friendly, are very lucky to have access to all this,” said Daniel Brière. “I consider that workshops like these provide them with a holistic background and are definitely beneficial in their journey, their path.”
An approach rooted in ethics and collaboration
The workshop opened with an essential reflection: how can we approach Indigenous legal systems through a respectful and rigorous documentary creation process?
The participants began building their documentary brief — a crucial stage that serves as the foundation for any serious audiovisual project. Over the course of two days, they took the first essential steps:
- The object or idea – Each project’s core concept was summarized, laying a solid groundwork for further exploration.
- The intention – Learners articulated their motivations, the issues at stake, and their preferred angle of approach. In a sharing circle, they connected their personal values to the chosen themes.
- The synopsis – Participants outlined their stories, including envisioned characters, locations, and narrative arcs.
Drawing inspiration from methodologies championed by Indigenous documentary filmmaking pioneers like Alanis Obomsawin, learners also explored ways to make their productions accessible to diverse audiences. Their projects aim to authentically capture Indigenous legal traditions while fostering dialogue within and beyond their communities.
With their synopsis in hand, learners will continue their creative process and further develop their project. They will better define the message and angle, as well as the visual and sound approaches of their documentary to bring their ideas to life on screen. Over the coming months, they will gather and analyze archives, conduct interviews with knowledge keepers and refine their script to ensure a strong and engaging narrative structure.
This preparatory work will culminate in complete proposals, ready to be presented to creative and television partners. These proposals will serve as blueprints for professional production, transforming the learners' visions into powerful cinematic testimonies of Indigenous legal cultures.
The Wapanakew initiative exemplifies how documentary film can become a powerful tool for preserving and promoting Indigenous knowledge. By fostering co-creation and visual learning and storytelling, Wapanakew brings together knowledge keepers, learners and creators in a collaborative process to produce authentic, meaningful projects. These projects sensitively celebrate and document Indigenous legal cultures, while affirming their richness and relevance in the contemporary landscape.
To learn more about the Certificate in Indigenous Law, visit the program page (in French only).