TV series featuring local First Nations launches this week

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

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On Wednesday, May 4, 2016 “Shaw TV Channel 10” will begin airing a series developed in partnership with the Algoma District School Board (ADSB) called “The Anishnaabe View: In Their Own Words.”

The episodes consist of Anishnaabe elders and leaders speaking to First Nations students in the Ojibway culture room of East View Public School about the history of First Nations people in this area.

The origin of the series is a website currently being developed by the ADSB about the early history of Sault Ste. Marie called “Voices from the Gathering Place.”

When the project was brought to the local First Nations community it became apparent that even though the website talked about the deep roots of First Nations and Métis history in this area, their voice and view needed to be heard firsthand if the story was to be complete.

Content from these episodes will be featured as film clips on the website and will present the First Nations and Métis perspective that is an integral part of the Ministry of Education’s 2013 Social Studies curriculum.

One of the exciting discoveries for the website developers were stories that have survived in the oral tradition which are not found in the written record such as the battle of Maple Island in the 1600s.

The first episode will air this Wednesday May 4, Friday May 6 and Sunday May 8 at 2 and 8 p.m. and features Garden River First Nations elder Willard Pine.

Willard is not only an important leader in his community but is also part of the historical continuum in this area as he is a great-great grandchild of Chief Shingwauk who, after working for decades to obtain a Treaty agreement for Garden River, was one of the Chiefs who signed the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850.

A new episode of “The Anishnaabe View: In Their Own Words” will air each week and will include other elders and leaders such as Chief Dean Sayers of Batchewana First Nations, Former Garden River Chief and direct descendant of Chief Shingwauk Lyle Sayers, local elder and artist Peter Migwans, and Ojibway language immersion specialist Barb Nolan.

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