The award winning film “NIPAWISTAMASOWIN – We Will Stand Up” opened in Whitehorse Wednesday.
It chronicles the events that lead to the death of Colten Boushie, a Cree man from the Red Pheasant First Nation in Saskatchewan.
In 2016 Boushie died from a gunshot to the head after entering a rural property with his friends.
Gerald Stanley, the farmer that shot him, was acquitted.
The court decision raised questions about prejudice within the judicial system and racism against Indigenous peoples.
It was directed by Tasha Hubbard, a close friend of the Boushie family.
Jade Tootoosis is Boushie’s cousin.
“I remember at one time her telling me I’m not sure of what’s going to come of this but I just feel that I need to record what’s happening right now,” she told APTN News.
The Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse was sold out for the screening of NIPAWISTAMASOWIN-We Will Stand Up.
The film also follows Boushie’s family in their fight for justice in Canada’s legal system, and shines a light on the stark history of colonialism in the prairies.
On the day of the Whitehorse screening, the documentary was awarded with a social justice award from the Calgary International Film Festival juror panel.
After the Yukon screening, the film heads to Edmonton for a viewing at MacEwan University and then it’s off to the Calgary International Film Festival.
Tootoosis says that awards are bitter sweet but the message is getting out to people and that’s the point.
“That’s my hope that every single person in this country sees this film and is impacted by our story to take action against systemic racism as well as racist attitudes and biases in our country,” she said.
