In Development
Richard Wagamese: The Storyteller
Format: 90-minute feature documentary for theatrical release and television broadcast
Genre: Arts & Culture POV documentary
Logline: He gave us his life on a page, one story at a time.
Anticipated production: 2024
Co-Production Partner: Sea to Sky Entertainment Inc.
Richard Wagamese: The Storyteller looks at the roads traveled by Richard Wagamese, who was from the Wabasseemoong First Nation in northwestern Ontario, and became one of Canada’s most beloved storytellers and writers. Richard shared his incredible gift with many audiences for over 35 years, and his works often mirrored his own life. He was forever searching for that place to belong and reclaim his identity from the immense trauma he experienced as an intergenerational victim of residential schools, and as a child of the Sixties Scoop, foster care and adoption systems, where he was abused physically, emotionally, mentally and sexually. Richard found healing through books, writing, music, nature, people and reconnection to his roots, and redemption through his work as an award winning author, columnist, broadcaster, commentator and popular keynote speaker. This is Richard Wagamese’s story about how he survived, and what he learned as a human being, a man and an Ojibway during his 61 years on earth.
Ragged Company
Format: 120-minute feature film and 6 x 45-minute mini series
Genre: Serio-Comedic Drama
Logline: A rags to riches tale of an unlikely group of friends journey from homelessness to finding home.
Anticipated production: 2025
Co-Production Partner: Sea to Sky Entertainment Inc.
Ragged Company is the story of four homeless “rounders” led by Amelia One Sky, a strong Ojibway woman; gentlemanly Timber, known for falling like a tree when he gets too drunk; Double Dick, a child-like innocent who depends on his friends to survive the skids, and scavenger Digger, the in-your-face protector of this chosen family. To escape a treacherous cold snap, the four take refuge inside an old art house theatre. Entranced by Wim Wenders’s Wings of Desire, the four rounders become movie fanatics watching everything from Cinema Paradiso and Field of Dreams to ET and BIG, and soon forge an unlikely intimacy with another film fan — Granite Harvey, a disconsolate former journalist who has lost his way.
13 Moons
Format: 13 x 30-minute series
Genre: Children’s programming
Type: Hybrid animation & live action
Anticipated production: 2025
13 Moons is a deep dive into the traditional Vision Keepers’ teachings through the eyes of a coming-of-age young woman named “Little Current.” Little Current is a dancer. She has been raised to be strong, noble and respectful of creation. For example, she knows that everything in Creation has spirit. The plants, the trees, the water, the wind, the rocks and the mountains have spirit. The sky world, including the moon and the other planets, have spirit. All of these are part of our First Family, the natural world.
The Moon is called Grandmother Moon and great respect is paid to her. As a young woman, Little Current has come to a time in her life that she must be aware of all the teachings she needs to become a woman. Through respected “Teachers” (Karen Pheasant, Sherry Copenace) she will “dance” us through all the teachings and ceremony she needs to be a strong, noble and respectful of creation.
These illuminations will be taught in the women’s lodge where the cycles of the thirteen moons will open the doors to her lifetime of understanding and being. Each passing moon will guide her through the changes that will light her way. They will follow times for planting, harvesting, hunting, gathering and the teachings she must follow to be an Anishinaabe Kway (Woman). In the Anishinaabe calendar the names of each month include the word ‘moon’ and reflect the close connection between the cycles of the moon, the plant and animal life and the teachings behind them on Turtle Island. As Little Current dances through all these realms of understanding and becomes more aware and knowledgeable of our traditions and culture so does our honour and respect for these ways.
Song of Heyokah
Format: 13 x 30-minute series
Genre: Historical documentary
Type: Live action
Anticipated production: 2025
On January 25, 2024 the Canadian government issued an apology at Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation for not honouring the treaties that were signed. Few Canadians are even aware of who they are and why this is happening. It is critical in taking the path to reconciliation with our Indigenous nations that this be rectified.
Song of Heyokah is a historical journey through spiritual songs of the Dakota Nation in North America. Much of the “History of the Dakota” is captured through pictographs on the Buffalo Robes from the past. They recount the history of the Dakota Oyate through seven generations in North America. This documented history of the people shows the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota people have roamed the plains for millennia.
Traditional Elders from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, which is part of the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota Spirit Nation, know that history is woven into the teachings of Heyokah. Dakota Elder Harold Blacksmith explains, “Heyokah is our spiritual teacher. To be a Heyokah requires an initial spiritual experience, usually in form of a dream or vision. The Heyokah is expected to act in ways that break with the traditional norms of the tribe which also strengthens us. It is from these ‘dreams and visions’ we maintain our culture, our history and create our songs.”
“Heyokah awakening is a spiritual awakening that can be experienced by anyone who’s willing to follow their heart and listen to their soul.”
These Dakota Oyate songs take us on a spiritual journey back into the history of the people. “First, our spiritual songs evoke our very beginnings, our connection to our past and our way forward. By recounting these songs, we spiritually bring forth our sacred histories and our connections to the Great White Mother, the Queen.”