Making Windsor a stop on a national tour of cinema by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit filmmakers will initiate and inspire conversations on identity, family, community, and nationhood, say organizers.

“Showcasing Indigenous stories through film is an exciting project for us,” says Kathryn Pasquach, UWindsor Aboriginal outreach co-ordinator. “The work we do towards reconciliation comes in many forms and this series of films is just one way to broaden the public’s understanding of culture and issues within our communities.”

The Aboriginal Education Centre and the Arts Council Windsor and Region are the local hosts of five free public screenings in the National Film Board of Canada’s Aabiziingwashi Wide Awake film series.

The first is set for Thursday, October 26, at 7 p.m. in room 104, Odette Building: the documentary Trick or Treaty by Alanis Obomsawin profiles Indigenous leaders in their quest for justice as they seek to establish dialogue with the Canadian government. By tracing the history of their ancestors since the signing of Treaty No. 9, these leaders aim to raise awareness about issues vital to First Nations in Canada.

Additional screenings are planned for:

• November 30 – Angry Inuk
• January 25 – We Can’t Make the Same Mistake Twice
• February 15 – Souvenir | This River
• March 22 – Birth of a Family