Documentary Emerging Ancestors
The documentary is an examination of the ways in which humans respond to conflict and adversity, namely with art. What does it mean to be an Emerging Ancestor? “Emerging Ancestors” seeks to engage with this topic through Indigenous and Ecological interpretations of an ‘elder’, in the sense of a teacher. Through this strong Indigenous lens, we seek to highlight the ways in which art can be used to move towards healing from trauma, struggle, the past, and more. Moreover, we seek to show death as a natural part of life, while still considering the need to fight for the sake of life in regard to the degenerating environment and social isolation. Our speakers range from Professors and Artists--such as comic artist and head of the UBC Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies, Dr. Bernie Perley; to independent Métis artist, Daphne Boyer; to Musqueam visual artist, Grace Ulu; to a Gitxsan artist and Independent Scholar, Michael Blackstock; to local student and activist, Yunji Hwang; to President of the BC Wheelchair Floorball Association, Kyle Gieni--and many more!
Producer & Director Keiko Honda says, “The Documentary Emerging Ancestors is an introduction to participatory storytelling. It addresses the broad question of how knowledge from nature can be integrated with knowledge of the humanities, especially regarding transcendence in one’s life. We use the water cycle as a model and metaphor to explore how best to build this synthesis of knowledge across disciplines and generations.”
Reviews
"Emerging Ancestors is an insightful and valuable contribution to the ideals of reconciliation and rebirth. It is an essay, an attempt to explicate and honor the singularity of our world and of all our lives via a reliance on the consilience of knowledge frames, from the crucial ecological wisdom of First Nations culture to the meaning of art in the anthropocene."
Oliver Hockenhull
Filmmaker, writer/critic, digital media maker.
"Emerging Ancestors is a compelling film. Water is used as a life force and as a powerful metaphor for the flow of human existence over time. In this wonderful film art, science, philosophy, and indigenous story-telling flow together, as the transcendent power of the human imagination is beautifully conveyed."
Laurie Anderson, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Vancouver Campus | Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Education / Interim Executive Director, SFU's Centre for Dialogue, Simon Fraser University
What People Are Saying
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from the film?
"The depth of understanding and learning that we can get from storytelling."
Maureen DeLandreville
"We are all connected - like water."
Daniel
"Relating Water with human"
Shiraz
"The need to pay attention to non-dominant perspectives, centring water, Earth, greater-than-human "voices""
Ruth
"Create!"
Anonymous
"We need to respect nature, other views and thinking long range."
Barb Mikulec
"The important role of arts in creating change."
Jean
"I don’t appreciate art enough. It is much needed food for the soul."
Tim Louis
"Water metaphor, storytelling, HITO."
M
"Real world experiences shared. Real learning, true understanding and acceptance for me, comes from such instances rather than books or philosophical preaching."
Aakash
"I want to see the video again and a again and stop and talk about all the key questions it raises.."
Penny Parry
Q: What was your favorite experience or moment of the event?
"Understanding that Keiko Honda wrote, performed in, did the artwork for and moderated the entire movie and event."
Maureen DeLandreville
"Great opening by Keiko and the chance to chat with the team and speaker after the event. Bernard’s sharing of storytelling.
Daniel
"Panel Discussion after the film."
Shiraz
"The artwork integrated into the film; The interviews"
Ruth
"The whole film"
Anonymous
"Listening to the speakers talk about their passions, and sharing their insights."
Barb Mikulec
"Change through the arts. important role of arts."
Jean
"Listening to the First Nations man who went to school at age 6 and knowing no English"
Tim Louis
"Watercolour, overlap of film footage"
M
"Real world experiences shared. Real learning, true understanding and acceptance for me, comes from such instances rather than books or philosophical preaching."
Aakash
"the dripping of the watercolour inks which reinforced the overall concept of fluidity and water."
Penny Parry
Q: Additional Comments and Suggestions
"Excellent! I want to see Indigenous stories more in the future."
Maureen DeLandreville
"A awesome event - felt like home :-)"
Daniel
I love the sense of intimacy in the film, the attenuated pacing...
John
"It was wonderful to become aware of the work of Keiko Honda and her production team!"
Ruth
"Thank-you. Very inspiring!"
Anonymous
"Excellent work!"
Shiraz
"It evoked a change in me. It took time to process the content. An amazing experience, a beauty with the way art was used. The humanness and the humility of all the folks in the making of the piece. Thank you."
Jean
" Keiko’s interview skills were impressive. I want to see more art and interesting philosophical discussions that leave me a better person.
Tim Louis
"Visuals, old footage and how it was linked with interviews were impressive."
Barb Mikulec
"I enjoyed it the way it was, and wouldn’t change anything."
Aakash
"I was so caught up in it the time did literally fly by as well as the technical skills of all the team - this was a truly integral piece. I want to more look at the recurrence of life’s key questions over a lifetime at future events."
Penny Parry
"Chapters and concepts were impressive. I will definitely rewatch."
M
BC Family Day Special Online Screening
Sunday, February 19, 1:00pm~2:30pm
https://www.youtube.com/live/7tfktLt0nsc?feature=share
The Province of British Columbia has provided VACS a grant in support of our free, community Family Day activity. To learn more visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/celebrating-british-columbia/bc-family-day”
