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Indigenous Plant Diva

Kamala Todd's short film is a lyrical portrait of Cease Wyss, of the Squamish Nation. Wyss is a woman who understands the remarkable healing powers of the plants growing all over downtown Vancouver. Whether it's the secret curl of a fiddlehead, or the gentleness of comfrey, plants carry ageless wisdom with them, communicated through colour, texture, and form. Wyss has been listening to this unspoken language and is now passing this ancient and intimate connection down to her own daughter, Senaqwila.
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Kamala Todd's short film is a lyrical portrait of Cease Wyss, of the Squamish Nation. Wyss is a woman who understands the remarkable healing powers of the plants growing all over downtown Vancouver. Whether it's the secret curl of a fiddlehead, or the gentleness of comfrey, plants carry ageless wisdom with them, communicated through colour, texture, and form. Wyss has been listening to this unspoken language and is now passing this ancient and intimate connection down to her own daughter, Senaqwila.

Health and Medicine Plants Indigenous Peoples in Canada (First Nations and Métis) Environment and Conservation Women All subjects
Our Planet in Focus All channels
Indigenous Cinema
  • writer
    Kamala Todd
  • director
    Kamala Todd
  • producer
    Selwyn Jacob
  • editor
    Johnny Darrell
  • cinematographer
    Helen Haig-Brown
  • composer
    takë5
  • sound designer
    Jamie Mahaffey
  • online editor
    Eliot Piltz
  • vocals
    Shamentsut
  • dialogue editor
    Susan Mahaffey
  • re-recording mixer
    Jamie Mahaffey
  • mix facility
    The Mix Room
  • post-production services
    Finale Editworks
  • production coordinator
    Jennifer Roworth
  • technical coordinator
    Wes Machnikowski
  • production supervisor
    Kathryn Lynch
  • marketing manager
    Kay Leung
  • program administrator
    Bruce Hagerman
  • executive producer
    Rina Fraticelli

Education

Ages 12 to 18
School subjects
Indigenous Studies - Arts Indigenous Studies - Identity/Society Science - Life Systems/Ecology

An uplifting and informative film to activate learning about Indigenous ways of knowing and doing. Consider the traditional Indigenous lands that you are currently residing on and research some Indigenous plants that continue to grow where you are. To further this knowledge gain, connect the Indigenous plant with the Indigenous plant name and Nation. Research Indigenous harvesting protocols and connect with Indigenous plant-knowledge holders to respectfully learn more about the original medicines of this land. There are many entry points into further knowledge building within this short film: the significance of original naming ceremonies, sustainable harvesting protocols, relationship building, spiritual connection to plants, experiential learning benefits, resilience and flourishing despite barriers.

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Indigenous Plant Diva
Purchase options
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