Yintah

Synopsis:

YINTAH means “land” in the original language of the First Nations in Canada. Their ancestral lands are coveted by the world’s largest fossil fuel companies to seize their natural resources. Over a ten-year period, the film follows Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en people and their community in a relentless struggle to defend their rights and environment.

Press:

“An emotionally stirring and visceral documentary”- The Review Geek

Festivals:

Selected to more than 20 festivals around the world, among others:
– World Premiere at True False 2024
– Premiere at Sheffield Doc Fest
– “Best of Fests” IDFA
– Winner of Hot Docs Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Feature
– Winner of Hot Docs Audience Award
– Winner Best International Documentary Feature Red Nation’s Film Festival
– Special Jury Mention for Elevate Award DOXA
– Special Jury Mention for Colin Low Award for Best Canadian Director DOXA


Director's Biography:

MICHAEL TOLEDANO, Co-Director & Producer & Director of Photography, is an award winning filmmaker and photojournalist based in British Columbia Canada. Michael’s work has been published by outlets including VICE, Al Jazeera America, and Democracy Now!, and has been shown across every major Canadian television news network.

JENNIFER WICKHAM, Co-Director & Producer, is Cas Yikh (Grizzly House) from the Gidimt’en (bear/wolf) clan of the Wet’suwet’en people. Jennifer grew up in and around Wet’suwet’en territory, and has actively participated in her nation’s governance system since 2008. Jen’s background is in writing and Indigenous resurgence. She has worked as an educator, a mental health advocate, and community support worker. Since 2018, and currently, Jen has been the Media Coordinator for the Gidimt’en Checkpoint.

BRENDA MICHELL, Co-Director & Producer is Tsakë ze’ K-eltiy of the Unist’ot’en people of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. She has lived in the Wet’suwet’en communities of Witset and Burns Lake all her life. Brenda is trained as a Wet’suwet’en language instructor and has worked as a post-secondary education coordinator for the Lake Babine Nation Band for decades, and is currently the resident Elder, language teacher, and addictions counselor at the Unist’ot’en Healing Centre.

********** Français **********

Synopsis :

YINTAH signifie « terre » dans la langue autochtone des Premières Nations Canadiennes. Leurs terres ancestrales sont convoitées par les plus grandes sociétés d’énergie fossile du monde pour s’emparer de leur richesse naturelle. Pendant dix ans, le film suit les Chef⸱fes Héréditaires du peuple Wet’suwet’en et leur communauté dans une lutte sans merci pour défendre leurs droits et leur environnement.

Presse:

“An emotionally stirring and visceral documentary”- The Review Geek

Festivals:

Sélectionné dans plus de 20 festivals, parmi lesquels :

– Première mondiale au True False 2024
– Première au Sheffield Doc Fest
– « Best of Fests » IDFA
– Lauréat du Hot Docs Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Feature
– Lauréat du Hot Docs Audience Award
– Lauréat du prix du Meilleur Long Métrage Documentaire International au Red Nation’s Film Festival
– Mention spéciale du jury pour le prix Elevate à DOXA
– Mention spéciale du jury pour le Colin Low Award du Meilleur Réalisateur Canadien à DOXA

Biographie des réalisateur·rices :

MICHAEL TOLEDANO, coréalisateur, producteur et directeur de la photographie, est un cinéaste et photoreporter primé basé en Colombie-Britannique. Le travail de Michael a été diffusé par des médias tels que VICE, Al Jazeera America, Democracy Now! et sur toutes les principales chaînes de télévision d’information du Canada.

JENNIFER WICKHAM, coréalisatrice et productrice, est une Cas Yikh (Maison du Grizzly) du clan Gidimt’en (ours / loup) de la Première Nation Wet’suwet’en. Jennifer a grandi tant à l’intérieur qu’aux alentours du territoire wet’suwet’en et elle participe au système de gouvernance de sa nation depuis 2008. Jen a une formation alliant rédaction et résurgence autochtone. Elle a travaillé comme éducatrice, comme agente pour la promotion de la santé mentale et comme travailleuse de soutien en milieu communautaire. Depuis 2018, Jen est la coordonnatrice média du poste de contrôle de Gidimt’en.

BRENDA MICHELL, coréalisatrice et productrice, est la tsakë ze’ k-eltiy du camp Unist’ot’en et membre de la Première Nation Wet’suwet’en. Élevée dès son jeune âge pour participer à la gouvernance wet’suwet’en, elle a toujours vécu dans les communautés de Witset et Burns Lake. Elle est actuellement doyenne en résidence, professeure de langue et thérapeute spécialisée en dépendance au Centre de guérison Unist’ot’en.

********** Nederlands **********

Synopsis:

YINTAH means “land” in the original language of the First Nations in Canada. Their ancestral lands are coveted by the world’s largest fossil fuel companies to seize their natural resources. Over a ten-year period, the film follows Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en people and their community in a relentless struggle to defend their rights and environment.

Press:

“An emotionally stirring and visceral documentary”- The Review Geek

Festivals:

Selected to more than 20 festivals around the world, among others:
– World Premiere at True False 2024
– Premiere at Sheffield Doc Fest
– “Best of Fests” IDFA
– Winner of Hot Docs Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Feature
– Winner of Hot Docs Audience Award
– Winner Best International Documentary Feature Red Nation’s Film Festival
– Special Jury Mention for Elevate Award DOXA
– Special Jury Mention for Colin Low Award for Best Canadian Director DOXA

Director's Biography:

MICHAEL TOLEDANO, Co-Director & Producer & Director of Photography, is an award winning filmmaker and photojournalist based in British Columbia Canada. Michael’s work has been published by outlets including VICE, Al Jazeera America, and Democracy Now!, and has been shown across every major Canadian television news network.

JENNIFER WICKHAM, Co-Director & Producer, is Cas Yikh (Grizzly House) from the Gidimt’en (bear/wolf) clan of the Wet’suwet’en people. Jennifer grew up in and around Wet’suwet’en territory, and has actively participated in her nation’s governance system since 2008. Jen’s background is in writing and Indigenous resurgence. She has worked as an educator, a mental health advocate, and community support worker. Since 2018, and currently, Jen has been the Media Coordinator for the Gidimt’en Checkpoint.

BRENDA MICHELL, Co-Director & Producer is Tsakë ze’ K-eltiy of the Unist’ot’en people of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. She has lived in the Wet’suwet’en communities of Witset and Burns Lake all her life. Brenda is trained as a Wet’suwet’en language instructor and has worked as a post-secondary education coordinator for the Lake Babine Nation Band for decades, and is currently the resident Elder, language teacher, and addictions counselor at the Unist’ot’en Healing Centre.