Indian History Film Project

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The original intent of The Indian History Film Project was to conduct interviews with First Nations elders across Canada and to produce a television series portraying Canadian history from a First Nations' perspective.

Major funding was provided by the Donner Foundation with additional funding from the Devonian and McLean foundations, and support from the University of Regina.

The Indian History Film Project was an initiative of Direction Films and was conceived and developed by Tony Snowsill. The project leaders were Tony Snowsill and Christine Welsh. The project evolved over time, and eventually it was decided to access libraries and archives across the country to incorporate existing interviews with First Nations elders. All interviews, whether original or archival, were cross indexed by word and theme and housed in the C.P.R.C.

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Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 20 of 1143
  • ItemOpen Access
    Coming Day interview #1
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1935-07-17) Mandelbaum, D.G. (Dr.); Coming Day
    Consists of an interview about a creation myth and some healing practices of medicine men.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Paskimin "Burst Berry" interview
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1935-07-30) Mandelbaum, D.G. (Dr.); Paskimin "Burst Berry"
    Consists of an interview where he gives an account of an unidentified skirmish between the Cree and the Blackfoot.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Fine Day interview #32
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1935-08-06) Mandelbaum, D.G. (Dr.); Fine Day
    Consists of an interview where he gives a description of punishment for violation of the hunting code. He also gives a brief description of saddle making.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Fine Day interview #27
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1935-07-11) Mandelbaum, D.G. (Dr.); Fine Day
    Consists of an interview with Fine Day where he gives an account of fighting between Cree and Blackfoot.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Fine Day interview #25
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1935-07-09) Mandelbaum, D.G. (Dr.); Fine Day
    Consists of an interview with Fine Day where he gives a very general description of traditional lifestyle.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Fine Day interview #21
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1935-06-25) Mandelbaum, D.G. (Dr.); Fine Day
    Consists of an interview where he gives a brief description of curing practices. He also lists Cree words for various bones and organs.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Fine Day interview #9
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1934-08-20) Mandelbaum, D.G. (Dr.); Fine Day
    Consists of an interview where Fine Day gives a description of death customs, a description of the construction of tipis and talks about the ceremonialism associated with their use.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Margaret Eagle interview
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1983-07-27) Eagle, Margaret; Sit, Evelyn
    Consists of an interview where she gives an account of the preparation and tanning of hides.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Lawrence Tobacco interview
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1983-06-20) Tobacco, Lawrence; Welsh, Christine; Snowsill, Tony
    Lawrence Tobacco, born 1919, on the Poor Man Reserve, Saskatchewan He attended a residential school and is now involved in traditional education and counseling. He talks about farming and raising cattle on the Poor Man Reserve; shares a story of a trip he took to Winnipeg to sell cattle for a number of reserves in the File Hills area, and how Indian Affairs officials tried to bribe him with part of the proceeds of the sale; shares stories of defiance toward Dept. of Indian Affairs paternalism such as: butchering a cow without a permit; buying a tractor and establishing outside credit without a permit. He also shares his experiences in the Catholic residential school on the Muskowekan Reserve, 1926-1935.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Mrs. Ada Ladue and Mrs. Beatrice Nightraveller interview
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1983-06-15) Ladue, Ada (Mrs.); Welsh, Christine; Nightraveller, Beatrice
    Ada Ladu was born on the Mistawasis Reserve, worked for wages in the 1930s, married and mother of five. Beatrice Nightraveller, daughter of Josie Cuthand, was born on the Little Pine Reserve, Saskatchewan, worked for wages in the 1930s, also married with five children. They share: a story of a white baby girl abducted and raised by Indians in the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan district; accounts of the Riel Rebellion (1885), especially the aftermath in the North Battleford district; philosophies of child-rearing; loss of portions of Little Pine Reserve and the death of Little Pine. On (p.18-23) is the story of Josie Cuthand, Beatrice Nightraveller's father.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Joe Duquette interview
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1983-06-17) Duquette, Joe; Welsh, Christine; Snowsill, Tony
    Joe Duquette, born 1904, on Mistawasis Reserve, never attended school, completely self-educated. Now Senator of F.S.I. and involved in teaching and counselling young people. He tells the story of his arranged marriage.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Lizette Ahenakew interview
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1983-06-21) Ahenakew, Lizette; Welsh, Christine
    She was born on the Little Pine Reserve, the first girl from that reserve to attend high school. She tells of some childhood memories; naming ceremonies; significance of Indian names; the training of children, especially girls; menarche seclusion; women: influence of, in religion and ceremonialism, pregnancy; her education: traditional; experiences in Anglican boarding school (integrated) in Saskatoon; training for roles as wife and mother.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Samuel Buffalo 3
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1977-09-14) Buffalo, Samuel
    He gives a description of raising and educating children; tells a story of a spirit helping two children; and tells another story used in the teaching of children.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Samuel Buffalo 2
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1977-09-08) Buffalo, Samuel
    He gives a concise history of the Dakota Sioux and their movement to Canada. COMMENTS: Mr. Buffalo makes a point to spell out all the names or words he speaks in the Dakota language. All the spellings come from his reference.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Samuel Buffalo 1
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1977-08-30) Buffalo, Samuel
    He gives a description of the difficulties encountered on reserves and the efforts made to combat them.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Robert Goodvoice 10
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1979-10-10) Goodvoice, Robert; Reydon, Helga
    He discusses various plants used for medicine.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Robert Goodvoice 9
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1979-09) Goodvoice, Robert; Reydon, Helga
    He describes the movement of the Dakota Sioux to Canada. He also mentions various plants used for medicine
  • ItemOpen Access
    Robert Goodvoice 7
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1977) Goodvoice, Robert
    He tells a story of a woman who was taken prisoner and carried off to live in an enemy camp; her treachery against her brothers and husband when they came to rescue her; how she was killed by her own mother because of her treachery; her mother's atonement after the killing.
  • ItemOpen Access
    Robert Goodvoice 6
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1977-10-07) Goodvoice, Robert
    He tells a story about the origins of the Dakota (Sioux) guardian spirit and his powers; and how Iktomi differs from the equivalent Cree spirit power (Wisakedjak).
  • ItemOpen Access
    Samuel Buffalo 4
    (Canadian Plains Research Centre, 1977-09-20) Buffalo, Samuel
    He discusses the mythical origins of the Dakota Sioux value system.