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Second Stories - Honour Thy Father

2008 21 min
Coming soon

This short documentary takes a poignant look at cultural misunderstanding and its toll on a family's grief. When filmmaker Gerald Auger lost his father, the local Anglican priest refused to allow the family to bury their father in the traditional Cree way - with the drum and the smudge - because he was buried on Anglican church property. Gerald sets out to resolve his hurt and anger and his path leads him to some unexpected places. Second Stories follows on the heels of the enormously successful First Stories project, which produced 3 separate collections of short films from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, …

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Second Stories - Honour Thy Father

Details

This short documentary takes a poignant look at cultural misunderstanding and its toll on a family's grief. When filmmaker Gerald Auger lost his father, the local Anglican priest refused to allow the family to bury their father in the traditional Cree way - with the drum and the smudge - because he was buried on Anglican church property. Gerald sets out to resolve his hurt and anger and his path leads him to some unexpected places.

Second Stories follows on the heels of the enormously successful First Stories project, which produced 3 separate collections of short films from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Second Stories builds on that success by continuing the training with 3 of the 12 Indigenous filmmakers who delivered such compelling short documentaries. Produced in association with CBC, APTN, SCN, SaskFilm and MANITOBA FILM & SOUND.

  • writer
    Gerald Auger
  • director
    Gerald Auger
  • narrator
    Gerald Auger
  • cinematographer
    Daron Donahue
  • sound recordist
    Stan Jackson
    Garrell Clark
  • original music
    Michael Becker
  • sound edit
    Jerry Krepakevich
  • mix
    Jerry Krepakevich
  • on-line
    Studio Post
  • colour correction
    Studio Post
  • transcription
    Sharon Murphy
  • production coordinator
    Ginette D'Silva
    Faye Yoneda
    Susan Lewis
  • production supervisor
    Mark Power
  • marketing manager
    Kelly Fox
  • program administrator
    Darin Clausen
  • producer
    Gil Cardinal
  • executive producer
    David Christensen
    Carl Karp

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Education

Ages 16 to 18

Study Guide - Guide 1

Ethics and Religious Culture - Ethical Values
Ethics and Religious Culture - Religious Diversity/Heritage
Indigenous Studies - History/Politics
Indigenous Studies - Identity/Society
Indigenous Studies - Issues and Contemporary Challenges

This documentary can inspire research, discussion, projects and entry points for developing foundational knowledge in relation to First Nations spirituality and the history of spiritual desecration. Explain the difference and similarities between religion and spirituality. What are the roots of fear and misunderstanding of First Nations ceremonial ways? Research the diverse methods of grieving and honouring the dead within various First Nations contexts across what is now Canada. Research why some promoted the idea that the drum is evil and what sort of thinking or ethics motivates these types of fears and misunderstandings. What actions towards atonement and reconciliation have the Anglican Church and other religious organizations taken since the official Residential School Apology? 

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