Kainayssini Imanistaisiwa: The People Go On

Windswept prairies, sloping coulees and stretches of open sky - this is the home of the Kainai Blood Nation, in the heart of southern Alberta. Filmmaker Loretta Sarah Todd takes viewers on a visually lush journey, exploring the significance of land, memory and knowledge in Kainai life.

The catalyst for this expressionistic journey is the return of belongings of the Kainai, collected by Europeans during colonial times and kept in distant museums. As the community's elders examine the objects and share stories first-hand, they reveal how the rich threads of Kainai life thrive from one generation to the next. From their traditions and language to their sacred beliefs, this is a powerful continuum of culture that cannot be contained in a glass exhibit case.

Stylistically blending sound, colour, light and words, this film explores the collective memory of the Kainai that resonates so deeply in their land and their storytelling traditions. Intertwining past, present and future, Kainayssini Imanistaisiwa: The People Go On is an eloquent testament to Kainai history, governance and existence.