Premiere of 'Snk̛míp Dig Deeper': A Locally Produced Documentary about Wetland Restoration and Indigenous Reconciliation
By Contributor
The wait is over! The feature-length documentary, Snk̛míp Dig Deeper, will premiere at The Old Castle Theatre in Castlegar on Friday, October 11, 2024, at 7:00 PM. The film offers an in-depth look at the restoration of the Snk̛míp marsh and its historical significance to the Indigenous Sinixt People.
This is the start of a screening tour that will take the film through the Slocan Valley and surrounding areas, ensuring that this film’s important message reaches as many community members as possible.
Filmed over six years in Sinixt tmxʷúlaʔxʷ (traditional territory), Snk̛míp Dig Deeper explores the complexities of wetland restoration and the cultural reconciliation that emerged from the project. It follows the journey of the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology (VFE) as they tackle the restoration of the marsh, uncovering its history as an ancient Indigenous village and sparking a deeper understanding of Indigenous rights. The film also challenges prevailing notions of land ownership and confronts Canada’s painful history of colonial exploitation of First Peoples and their lands.
“This film isn’t just about wetland restoration,” says co-director Marilyn James of the Autonomous Sinixt. “It’s about restoring right relationships, with the land and between all peoples.”
The documentary was co-produced and co-directed by the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology and the Autonomous Sinixt, led by Matriarch Marilyn James. The partnership has resulted in a compelling film that offers viewers a transformative journey, highlighting the intersection of ecological restoration and cultural reconciliation.
In addition to the Premiere, the film will have a soft opening at the Rossland Museum on October 3 and continue its Release Tour throughout the Valley Voice readership area. Community screenings are planned for locations including Nelson, Rossland, Winlaw, Castlegar, Kaslo, Nakusp, and New Denver/Silverton, with most events featuring a Q&A panel discussion.
Event Details:
-
What: Premiere of Snk̛míp Dig Deeper
-
When: Friday, October 11, 2024, at 7:00 PM
-
Where: The Old Castle Theatre, Castlegar
-
Admission: Pay What You Can (suggested $15), no one turned away
For more information about the film and the upcoming screenings, please contact Yasmín Rodríguez Toro at producer@digdeeperfilm.ca. You can also visit our website, https://www.digdeeperfilm.ca.
About the Film:
Snk̛míp Dig Deeper is a locally produced, feature-length documentary that tells the story of the restoration of the Snk̛míp marsh and the deeper complexities of Indigenous rights and reconciliation. It was filmed in the Sinixt traditional territory and created through the partnership of the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology and the Autonomous Sinixt.
Film’s Logline:
“As an idealistic conservation group strives to restore a damaged wetland and tensions escalate with local off-road motorized users, an unexpected revelation uncovers the site’s ancient Indigenous heritage, propelling them on a transformative journey of reconciliation with the Sinixt People and reshaping perspectives on land stewardship in Snk̛míp Dig Deeper.”
Comments