Summary
Among members of her tribe, the Abenaki, Alanis Obomsawin is affectionately known as Ko-li-la-wato, or "someone who makes us very happy." The artist created her first short film, Christmas at Moose Factory, in 1971 using a series of children's drawings to illustrate the patterns of life in a small northern settlement in Canada. But long before gravitating toward cinema, Obomsawin had won widespread acclaim as a singer, writer and storyteller dedicated to keeping the traditions of her people alive. The Abenakis once occupied much of New England and adjoining Canadian territories.
With more than 15 documentaries to her credit, all supported by Canada's National Film Board, Obomsawin was hailed in a 2002 article by admirer Paul Williams of Edmonton, Alberta, as "not only Canada's most famous indigenous filmmaker but also one of the more well- known Canadian documentarians." She heads a roster of about 15 guest artists expected to attend this week's fourth annual Native Cinema Showcase at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe.See the full content of this document
Extract
Documentary Warrior
Each of Obomsawin's works touches upon issues affecting contemporary First Nation peoples, and often the films are crafted with a Native audience in mind. Marc Glassman, writing for the Film Reference Library, a division...
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