Three Feathers

Last updated
Three Feathers
Directed byCarla Ulrich
Written byCarla Ulrich
Based onThree Feathers
by Richard Van Camp
Produced byRichard Van Camp
Brent Kaulback
Ann LePine
StarringDavid Burke
Joel Evans
Dwight Moses
Eileen Beaver
Henry Beaver
Distributed by South Slave Divisional Education Council
Release date
2018
Country Canada
LanguagesEnglish
Chipewyn
Cree
South Slavey

Three Feathers is a Canadian drama film. The film was written and directed by Carla Ulrich and is based on the novel Three Feathers by Richard Van Camp. [1]

Contents

The film stars David Burke as Flinch, Joel Evans as Bryce, and Dwight Moses as Rupert; along with Eileen and Henry Beaver as Elders Irene and Raymond. The cast also includes Tantoo Cardinal, Pat Burke, Crystal Benwell, Frankie Laviolette, Dante Kay-Grenier, and Trey Currie.

Plot

The film follows the journey of three young Dene men from the Northwest Territories after they commit a crime and are sentenced.

Flinch, Bryce, and Rupert were on a robbing spree in their hometown until one night when everything went wrong and they caused serious injuries to a respected Elder. Their community is angry and demands justice, but instead of being sent away to jail, they young men are sentenced through a traditional sentencing circle.

They are sent live on the land with two Elders, Irene and Raymond, for nine months, where they must learn how to take care of the land and how to take care of each other. In the beginning the men rebel, but they soon come to see the value in the teachings they receive from the Elders and the land.

The Elders share their teachings, gently guiding the young men to become responsible and competent. They show them how to learn from the land, and help them reconnect with their traditional language and cultural traditions. Indigenous values of respect, kindness, and sharing underlie everything they do.

After spending nearly a year on the land, Flinch, Bryce, and Rupert return to their community, hopeful that their apology and their changed ways will be enough to right the harm they caused. But will the community accept them and forgive them?

Three Feathers: The Movie explores the power and grace of restorative justice and the cultural legacy that can empower future generations. [2]

Filming

As the film takes place over nine months, it features scenes of life on the land throughout all four seasons. [3] In each season, the three young men have the opportunity to learn new lessons—from snowshoeing through deep snow in the winter to setting up a tipi in the summer.

Cast

The majority of the cast and crew [4] are residents of the Northwest Territories. [5]

Accolades

Three Feathers: The Movie is the first film to be produced in four languages: [6] Chipewyan (Dëne Sųłıné Yatıé), Cree (Nēhiyawēwin), South Slavey (Dene Zhatıé), and English.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwest Territories</span> Territory of Canada

The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada. At a land area of approximately 1,144,000 km2 (442,000 sq mi) and a 2016 census population of 41,790, it is the second-largest and the most populous of the three territories in Northern Canada. Its estimated population as of 2022 is 45,605. Yellowknife is the capital, most populous community, and only city in the territory; its population was 19,569 as of the 2016 census. It became the territorial capital in 1967, following recommendations by the Carrothers Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowknife</span> Capital city of the Northwest Territories, Canada

Yellowknife is the capital, largest community, and only city in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, about 400 km (250 mi) south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of the Yellowknife River.

Wrigley is a "Designated Authority" in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The Slavey Dene community is located on the east bank of the Mackenzie River, just below its confluence with the Wrigley River and about 466 mi (750 km) northwest of Yellowknife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tłı̨chǫ</span> First Nations people in Canada

The Tłı̨chǫ people, sometimes spelled Tlicho and also known as the Dogrib, are a Dene First Nations people of the Athabaskan-speaking ethnolinguistic group living in the Northwest Territories of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athabaskan languages</span> Group of indigenous languages of North America

Athabaskan is a large family of indigenous languages of North America, located in western North America in three areal language groups: Northern, Pacific Coast and Southern. Kari and Potter (2010:10) place the total territory of the 53 Athabaskan languages at 4,022,000 square kilometres (1,553,000 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Slave Lake</span> Second-largest lake in the Northwest Territories, Canada

Great Slave Lake, known traditionally as Tıdeè in Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì (Dogrib), Tinde’e in Wıìlıìdeh Yatii / Tetsǫ́t’ıné Yatıé, Tu Nedhé in Dëne Sųłıné Yatıé (Chipewyan), and Tucho in Dehcho Dene Zhatıé (Slavey), is the second-largest lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada, the deepest lake in North America at 614 m (2,014 ft), and the tenth-largest lake in the world by area. It is 469 km (291 mi) long and 20 to 203 km wide. It covers an area of 27,200 km2 (10,500 sq mi) in the southern part of the territory. Its given volume ranges from 1,070 km3 (260 cu mi) to 1,580 km3 (380 cu mi) and up to 2,088 km3 (501 cu mi) making it the 10th or 12th largest by volume.

Slavey is a group of Athabaskan languages and a dialect continuum spoken amongst the Dene peoples of Canada in the Northwest Territories – or central Denendeh – where it also has official status. The languages are primarily written using a modified Latin script, with some using Canadian Aboriginal syllabics. In their own languages, these languages are referred to as: Sahtúgot’įné Yatı̨́, K’ashógot’įne Goxedǝ́ and Shíhgot’įne Yatı̨́ in the North, and Dené Dháh, Dene Yatıé or Dene Zhatıé in the South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gwichʼin language</span> Athabaskan language of the Gwich’in indigenous people

The Gwichʼin language belongs to the Athabaskan language family and is spoken by the Gwich'in First Nation (Canada) / Alaska Native People. It is also known in older or dialect-specific publications as Kutchin, Takudh, Tukudh, or Loucheux. Gwich'in is spoken primarily in the towns of Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, and Tsiigehtchic, all in the Northwest Territories and Old Crow in Yukon of Canada. In Alaska of the United States, Gwichʼin is spoken in Beaver, Circle, Fort Yukon, Chalkyitsik, Birch Creek, Arctic Village, Eagle, and Venetie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dene</span> Indigenous people in northern Canada

The Dene people are an indigenous group of First Nations who inhabit the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dene speak Northern Athabaskan languages. Dene is the common Athabaskan word for "people". The term "Dene" has two usages. More commonly, it is used narrowly to refer to the Athabaskan speakers of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in Canada, especially including the Chipewyan (Denesuline), Tlicho (Dogrib), Yellowknives (T'atsaot'ine), Slavey, and Sahtu. However, it is sometimes also used to refer to all Northern Athabaskan speakers, who are spread in a wide range all across Alaska and northern Canada. The Southern Athabaskan speakers, however, also refer to themselves by similar words: Diné (Navajo) and Indé (Apache).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sahtu</span> Dene First Nations ethnic group

The Sahtú or North Slavey are a Dene First Nations people of the Athabaskan-speaking ethnolinguistic group living in the vicinity of Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. The Sahtú peoples live in Colville Lake, Deline, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells and Tulita which form the Sahtu Region of the NWT. The Dene of the region are represented by the Sahtu Dene Council who, in 1993, signed the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement. Sahtú groups include the Hare Dene, Bear Lake Dene, and Mountain Dene. They call themselves also Ɂehdzo Got’ı̨ne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Smith, Northwest Territories</span> Town in Northwest Territories, Canada

Fort Smith is a town in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada. It is located in the southeastern portion of the Northwest Territories, on the Slave River and adjacent to the Alberta border along the 60th parallel north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman Wells</span> Town in Northwest Territories, Canada

Norman Wells is a town located in the Sahtu Region, Northwest Territories, Canada. The town, which hosts the Sahtu Regional office, is situated on the north side of the Mackenzie River and provides a view down the valley of the Franklin and Richardson mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowknives</span> Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Territories, Canada

The Yellowknives, Yellow Knives, Copper Indians, Red Knives or T'atsaot'ine are indigenous peoples of Canada, one of the five main groups of the First Nations Dene who live in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The name, which is also the source for the later community of Yellowknife, derives from the colour of the tools made from copper deposits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nahanni Butte</span> Place in Northwest Territories, Canada

Nahanni Butte is a "Designated Authority" in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located at the confluence of the Liard and South Nahanni Rivers in the southwestern part of the NWT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sambaa K'e</span> Place in Northwest Territories, Canada

Sambaa K'e is a "Designated Authority" in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located near the Alberta border, east of Fort Liard, on the shore of the lake also known as Sambaa K'e. It has no all-weather road, but can be reached by winter road early in the year or by air year-round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Łutselk'e</span> First Nation - Designated Authority of Łutselkʼe in Northwest Territories, Canada

Łutselkʼe, also spelt Łutsël Kʼé, is a "designated authority" in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located on the south shore near the eastern end of Great Slave Lake and until 1 July 1992, it was known as Snowdrift, as the community lies near the mouth of the Snowdrift River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Northwest Territories</span> Aspect of history

The history of the Northwest Territories covers the period from thousands of years ago to the present day. Prior to European colonization, the lands that encompass present-day Northwest Territories were inhabited for millennia by several First Nations. European explorers and fur traders began to explore the region since the late-16th century. By the 17th century, the British laid claim to both the North-Western Territory and Rupert's Land; and granted the Hudson's Bay Company a commercial fur trade monopoly over the latter region.

François Beaulieu II was a chief of the Yellowknife tribe. He was an Arctic guide and interpreter who played an important role in exploration of the Northwest Territories of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Slave Divisional Education Council</span> School in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada

The South Slave Divisional Education Council (SSDEC) is the organizational entity responsible for the administration of public schools within the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Its responsibility includes all schools within the five communities of the South Slave. Specifically, it is responsible for schools in the communities of Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, K'atl'odeche First Nation, Hay River, and Łutselk'e. Given the vast distances between communities, and the relatively small populations, the eight schools of the South Slave range in enrolment from 60 to 250 students. Although considered part of the South Slave Region by other departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories, the communities of Fort Providence and Kakisa are served by the Deh Cho Divisional Education Council and not the SSDEC.

The Language Bureau was a government agency that provided language services in the 11 official languages of the Northwest Territories for nearly 25 years.

References

  1. ↑ "NWT author's novel to become film, will be shot in 4 languages". My Yellowknife Now. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  2. ↑ "The Making of Three Feathers — the Movie - Arctic Journal". Arctic Journal. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  3. ↑ "NWT author's novel to become film, will be shot in 4 languages". My Yellowknife Now. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  4. ↑ "The Making of Three Feathers — the Movie - Arctic Journal". Arctic Journal. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  5. ↑ "Cast selected for Three Feathers film – Northern Journal". norj.ca. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  6. ↑ "N.W.T. film shoots in Chipewyan, South Slavey and Bush Cree — with help from language experts | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.