Directed by Colleen Simard

Logline: What is Indigenous Joy?

Synopsis: A First Nations woman asks herself, "What is Indigenous Joy?" A short Super 8mm film, produced as part of the Winnipeg Film Groups' Super 8 Special Film Incubator.

Distribution Contact: WFG

More Details

RUNTIME: 1 Minute
GENRE: Experimental, Documentary, Narrative/Fiction
PRODUCTION FORMAT: Super 8mm
LANGUAGE: English
LOCATION:Manitoba
KEYWORDS: Art, Culture, Indigenous, Women, Art, First Nations, Story Telling, Narrative, , Film/ Video Art, Race, Reality, Spirituality, Tale/ Legend

Director's Statement: Indigenous Joy was shot during a hot Winnipeg summer, when everything seems to slow down and the city gets quiet, especially on the weekends when people head to their cabins.

Summer days lend themselves to a nostalgic vibe that feels more small town than big city. Imagine barbecues in the park, elm canopies heavy with leaves, and Sunday night cruises where local hot rodders glide down Main and Portage as the sun sets.

The Summer I made Indigenous Joy I was living in a very liminal space. My mom passed away suddenly, and I could take a break to grieve and assess how the world was going to look moving forward. I was doing some reading for an online class and learned part of the decolonization process is finding Indigenous joy.

That became a goal for me to work through the process of healing; what gave me joy? For me, it was simple things, many that I still remembered from childhood. Nostalgia for the days that life was far simpler and beautiful were still within my grasp. We all deserve Indigenous Joy.