Feature Film (Post-production)
UNTITLED CHESLATTA DOCUMENTARY
CATEGORY: Feature
RELEASE: 2024
LENGTH: -
SYNOPSIS
In 1951, aluminum company Alcan striked an agreement with the British Columbia government to begin construction on a hydroelectric project that would forever alter the landscape of the Nechako river and displace the entire Cheslatta community from their traditional village site. At the time, Alcan provided $5000 to the University of British Columbia to conduct an emergency expedition in the soon-to-be flood zone, but efforts were cut short and history was lost to the rising reservoir waters.
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Fast forward to 2023, and Alcan (now Rio Tinto) is making efforts to rewrite the wrongs of their past, working with the Cheslatta Carrier Nation to better understand where things went wrong and how they can do better going forward. In the documentary we meet a crew of archaeologists working with Cheslatta to salvage, preserve and study cultural artifacts - some spanning 10,000 years old - that have been lost due to the flooding.
The documentary sheds a light on the damage that powerful corporations can have on culture and the environment, and the importance of holding these large industries accountable, even those that happened over 70 years ago. The construction of the Kenney Dam still has its consequences today, whether it be ecological harm on the surrounding area, or the emotional trauma it leaves in its wake within the community.
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While the damages can never be completely undone, there is a way of going forward that allows the people of Cheslatta to have a seat at the table, and be a part of any future decisions that could have effect on their lands. It's the hope of the archeological team that the artifacts recovered and researched will further the understanding of Cheslatta's hisotoriy, and eventually find a home in a repository built by/for the community.
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