The film Custodians: A Story of Ancient Echoes won big at the Saskatchewan International Film Fest (SIFF) in October. The documentary explores the work of local landowners, volunteers and municipal government officials in conserving the many signs of historic Indigenous presence in the Herschel, Saskatchewan, area.
The judges awarded Custodians top prize for Best Full-Length Documentary, Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score and Best Director. The film was commissioned by Walking the Path, Mennonite Church Saskatchewan’s Indigenous-setter relations committee, and directed by Brad Langendoen.
Randy Klassen, a member of Walking the Path who attended the awards event, hopes the awards will bring the film a wider audience. “Being ‘award-winning’ helps to gather attention in certain circles, especially in urban and artistic circles,” he said.
“Really, a lot of the places we’d like it to be shown are rural communities and First Nations communities,” he added. “How can we get this to the place where landowners and Indigenous people spark conversations in their communities? That’s our hope.”
Langendoen, who also directed Reserve 107 and For Love of a River—which also arise from Mennonite connections with Indigenous people—spearheaded the work of entering Custodians into 24 film festivals around the world, said Klassen. Even if the film doesn’t win an award at a festival, it’s still an honour to be selected for a film fest. “It’s okay to lose out at a place where Martin Scorsese has stuff entered,” he said with a laugh.
Leanne Hynd, along with her partner, Jeff Wiens, are two of the landowners featured in the movie. Hynd praised the effort and passion that Langendoen brought to the project. “It’s because of his heart and his talent that we have this story. For Brad to come in and capture the essence of this place is just so amazing,” she said.
Hynd hopes that the film will help the Ancient Echoes Interpretative Centre to be able to do the “gentle dance” of “growing organically,” while not becoming “too touristy.”
Related article:
The land speaks
(Photo courtesy of Brad Langendoen)
Comments
Hmm! Custodian! But still owners? Owners through British property law and land title? How much land have Mennonites repatriated to First Nations groups? How much land is now in First Nations "ownership?"
It sounds encouraging if now Mennonites are only custodians of the land, and that Mennonites recognize First Nations as owners. It is appropriately humbling and just at the same time, if now Mennonites are giving up wide swathes of land to its rightful owner. Yahweh will be pleased!
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