The Walk of Honour has been created as a tribute to those Aboriginal artists who have blazed trails in the film industry. It is intended to be a lasting legacy to recognize their efforts and hard work at bringing a new understanding to the varied cultures, traditions, languages and artistic expressions of Aboriginal People in Canada.
category Communications and Multi-Media
Founded numerous provincial and national Aboriginal publications and established Alberta's first Aboriginal radio station; CFWE-FM, Bert Crowfoot helped transform communications for Aboriginal people from the late 1970s. In 2005, he was named one of Alberta Venture's "100 Entrepreneurs who built Alberta" and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Tribal Chief's Institute. Bert Crowfoot is founder and CEO of the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) and publisher of six publications: Windspeaker (est. 1983); Alberta Sweetgrass (est. 1993); Saskatchewan Sage (est. 1996); BC Raven's Eye (est. 1997), Ontario Birchbark (est. 2001) and Business Quarterly (est. Nov/2005).
category Director - Film
Writer and director of documentaries depicting Maori life since the early 1970s, was the first Maori to direct an award-winning feature film Ngati in 1987. He has proposed that Indigenous filmmaking may be seen as a "Fourth Cinema" and that Indigenous law is the proper law covering the protection of Indigenous treasures. His most recent films are The Feathers of Peace, a feature drama-documentary based on the Moriori people of Rekohu (the Chatham Islands), and The Kaipara Affair, a feature documentary on the mixed community of Tinopai on the Kaipara harbour using two legal traditions to challenge chronic over-fishing by industry in the area.
category Actress-Film/Theatre
Tantoo Cardinal is one of North America's most widely recognized native actresses. A strong advocate for protecting true portrayals of Aboriginal people in film, one of the first female Aboriginal actors in the industry with over 50 films to her credit, she has lead the way for Aboriginal actors since the early 1970's. A world-renowned actress and recipient of numerous awards, Tantoo continues to promote positive roles for Aboriginal women in the film industry. Tantoo Cardinal came of age in Canada during a time when native culture was still viewed with suspicion and even contempt by the Canadian government.
category Producer/Director - Film
Alanis Obomsawin is perhaps, not only Canada's most famous indigenous filmmaker but also one of the more well-known Canadian documentarians. Her work, like that of the National Film Board's (NFB), is designed to show aspects of Canada not regularly seen. Bursting into the filmmaking scene in 1967 with her own film creation Christmas in Moosefactory has become one of Canada's most distinguished producers and directors of documentaries. Dedicating her productions to the preservation of Aboriginal history and culture, she paved the way for other Aboriginal filmmakers to pursue social and political change and has received many awards for her strong commitment.
category Director/Writer - Film
Beginning in the early 1970's, has produced documentaries that portray current political and social issues of Canada's Aboriginal people and is best known for the Gemini Award winning Foster Child. A visionary who has utilized dramatic film works to raise awareness of the struggles being experienced by Aboriginal people in Canada.
born Montreal, Quebec
category Stage and Screen
Began his acting career in 1966 in Toronto and has appeared in numerous film and theatre productions. His awards include a 1991 Genie Award for "Black Robe", a Gemini Award and the Tyrone Guthrie Award in 1967. He has been honored with two Eagle Spirit Awards at the American Indian Film Festival and the First Americans in the Arts have bestowed this incredible actor with three Awards.
born Big River, Saskatchewan
categoryProducer/Director
Helped establish the first video program for Aboriginal people with Alberta Native Communications in 1968. Founded Dreamspeakers Festival Society and the National Film Board's Native Studio which has produced over 47 films. Since 1983 has produced and directed over 100 weekly television series with Aboriginal themes.
born Poundmaker Reserve, Saskatchewan
categoryStage and Screen
This award winning actor started with his first role in the 1972 film "Alien Thunder". Has appeared in over 40 feature films including "Legends of the Fall" and "The Edge" and starred in many theatre productions. Gordon is a 2005 recipient of the Order of Canada.
born Cold Lake, Alberta
category Film and Television
This actor's career began with his role in the Academy Award winning feature "Dances with Wolves" in 1990 then appeared in the 1992 Academy Award winner "Unforgiven". With over thirty television and movie appearances is best known for his role as Joe Gomba in the television series "North of 60".
born Montreal, Quebec
categoryProducer/Director
Produced Canada's first music video, the "Ballad of Crowfoot", in 1971 and over the past 30 years has gone on to direct international award winning documentaries. A singer, songwriter, musician, playwright, director, award-winning filmmaker and a First Nations ambassador for Canada — one of the Aboriginal community's true trailblazers.
Walk of Honour Luncheon/Fundraiser
Friday June 6 - 12:00 Noon
Venue TBA
$25/Person