Ojibway Actors/Actresses
Adam Beach: Currently starring in the CBC television series "The Rez," based on the 1994 feature film "Dance Me Outside," in which Adam also starred. Adam played the lead role in Walt Disney's mythical (although they call factual) story "Squanto" about the so called "friendly Indian" to the Pilgrims. Adam also starred opposite Litefoot in the Canadian film "The Song of Hiawatha." He has also appeared in the films "Cadillac Girls," "A Boy Called Hate," "Coyote Summer," and "Spirit Rider." His television work also includes appearances in "My Indian Summer," "North of 60," "Lonesome Dove," and "Walker, Texas Ranger."
Diane Debassige: Diane is Ojibway First Nation from West Bay, Ontario. She has been acting since age 12, including an early role opposite Cree Actress Tantoo Cardinal in the Canadian film "Loyalties." Diane also worked with Tantoo in the CBC drama "Daughters of the Country." In 1996 she played an important part in the HBO mini-series "Grand Avenue" along with Tantoo, Sheila Tousey and Irene Bedard and other top rated First Nation and American Indian actors. She is currently making guest appearances in the CBC television series "The Rez."
Ryan Black: Ryan attended the University of Winnipeg, Manitoba Youth Drama Festival, and the Seventh Generation Theatre. He co-starred with Adam Beach in "Dance Me Outside" and received the Eagle Spirit Award at the 1994 American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco. He is currently starring in the CBC television series "The Rez," where he continues the role of Silas, which he played in "Dance Me Outside." He has also appeared in the films "Geronimo" and "Spirit Rider."
Ojibway Films/Videos
"Lighting The Seventh Fire" by Sandra Osawa.
"Lighting The Seventh Fire" is a documentary film by Makah filmmaker Sandra Osawa. The film premiered on PBS stations across the nation, ironically on July 4th, 1995. This powerful documentary focuses on the Ojibway fishing rights struggle during the 1980s in Northern Wisconsin. After decades of confrontations with State and Federal Fish and Game agencies the Wisconsin Ojibway (Chippewa) finally took their case involving Treaty Rights to the Supreme Court to settle the matter once and for all. The Supreme Court upheld the Wisconsin Chippewa Tribe's right to fish, including spear fishing, in off-reservation public lakes and rivers. This court decision should have put matters to rest, but it did not. Wisconsin's sport and recreational industries immediately launched an all out assault on Ojibway fishing practices and methods. This opposition would lead to the harassment and sabotage of Ojibway fisherman and property in an attempt to disregard the Supreme Court Ruling and force the Ojibway back onto their reservations. Osawa's film does an excellent job sifting through the history, facts, issues and underlying roots of this controversy. In the process of telling this story, a more profound story emerges; one of pride, hope and rebirth for Ojibway people who have returned to their traditional teachings and customs in this time of the seventh fire. For more info call Upstream Productions at 206-281-9177.
"A Gift to One, A Gift to Many: James Jackson Sr., Ojibwe Medicine Man" by Lorraine Norrgard.
This award winning documentary film by filmmaker Lorraine Norrgard focuses on the life and teachings of the revered Ojibwe Medicine Man James Jackson Sr. Utilizing interviews with Mr. Jackson and the friends, family, and Ojibway people who benefited from his knowledge and wisdom, Norrgard's film presents a powerful story of cultural integrity, survival and truth of the Ojibway way.
Director: Lorraine Norrgard
Contact: Lorraine Norrgard at 218-879-2288.
"Enduring Ways of the Lac du Flambeau People" by Lorraine Norrgard.
An informative and revealing look into the customs, traditions and life ways of the Northern Wisconsin Lac du Flambeau Ojibway people.
Director: Lorraine Norrgard
Producer: Lac du Flambeau Ojibway Tribe
"With Reservations" by Ojibway writer Jim Northrup.
Author Jim Northrup honors his Ojibway heritage in the film "With Reservations," which features his award winning poems, short stories and barbed humor. In this film the viewer follows Jim from his home on the Fond du Lac Reservation in northern Minnesota as he travels across the country, living his life in accord with the seasons. Jim celebrates spring by spearing fish and sugar bushing. In the summer, he attends powwows and makes birch bark baskets. The fall is spent harvesting wild rice and hunting moose. Jim also makes a visit to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.. During the winter, he tells stories to make the season seem shorter. The film "With Reservations" by Mike Rivard and Mike Hazard is a project of the Center for International Education, which has been turned over to the Native Arts Circle, a non-profit, statewide arts agency in Minneapolis, MN. For more info call 1-800-598-3308. Recently won awards at Dreamspeakers Native Film Festival '97, and Red Earth '07.
"Ikwe" National Film Board of Canada
A young Ojibway girl of 1770, Ikwe awakens one night from a disturbing dream about a strange man. The arrival of a young Scottish fur trader transforms her dream into reality. Marrying him, Ikwe leaves her village on the shores of Georgian Bay. Although the union promises prosperity for her tribe, it means hardship and isolation for Ikwe. Values and customs clash until, finally, the events of Ikwe's dream unfold with tragic clarity. Part one of the series entitled Daughters of the Country.
- Director Norma Bailey
- Producers Norma Bailey, Michael Scott, Ches Yetman
- Cast William Ballantyne, Patrick Bruyère, Jamie Hardisty, Hazel King, Vicky Klyne, Kim McCaw, Marion Moneyas, Sarah Peebles, Gladys Taylor, Geraint Wyn Davies, Wally McSween, David Gillies, Blake Taylor
- Writing Wendy Lill
- Photography Ian Elkin
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"Rice Harvest" National Film Board of Canada
Each fall, for generations, the families of the Pauingassi band have camped by northern Manitoba lakes, and combed the reedy shores with brooms, paddles and baskets for manomin--wild rice. The trade with the bush pilot begins the process by which an Indian staple and sacred crop becomes a white man's luxury food. A quiet but haunting film.
- Directors Bob Lower, Norma Bailey
- Producers Jerry Krepakevich, Michael Scott
- Writing Sheila Baptie
- Photography Richard Stringer
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- "The Song of Hiawatha"
This adaptation of henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem "The Song of Hiawatha" celebrates the heroic deeds of the legendary Ojibway Chief sent by the Great Spirit to lead his people. The story of Hiawatha's (Litefoot) feats and tragedies is told to fur trader Jean Bertrand (Michael Rooker), French priest Father Marcel (David Strathairn), and Indian interpreter O"Kagh (Graham Greene) by his grandmother Nokomis (Sheila Tousey) and tribal elder Iagoo (Gordon Tootoosis). Hiawatha's many adventures include falling in love with the beautiful and unattainable Dakota maiden Minnehaha (Irene Bedard) and marrying her. Eventually, the immortal Hiawatha must leave his people and join his father (Russell Means) in the Kingdom of the West Wind.
Director: Jeffery Shore
Producer: John Danylkiw
Contact: Leatherstocking Productions, Toronto, ONT, Canada, 1996
"The Woodlands: The story of the Mille Lacs Ojibwe"
Narrated by Oneida actor Graham Greene, this 60 minute documentary produced by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe traces 300 years of Mille Lacs Band history, from their arrival in Minnesota up to the present day. The film combines interviews with tribal elders and noted historians with historical photos and documents, plus archival and modern location footage and traditional Ojibwe music.
Director: Tom Jenz
Producer: Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Contact: Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe HCR 67, Box 194 Onamia, MN 56359
"Keepers of the Water"
This 38 minute documentary is an inspiring story of how an environmental issue affects everyone, Indians and whites alike in their fight against corporate America. Set against the pristine backdrop of Northern Wisconsin, "Keeper of the Water" focuses on the fight of the residents of the area against the Exxon Corporation and its efforts tp open a copper mine and toxic waste dump at the headwaters of the Wolf River, one of the last wild and clean rivers left in the Midwest. Aware that the proposed mine would have disasterous effetcs on fish, wildlife, and human life in this unspoiled area, white residents have joined the local Sokaogan Chippewa tribe to prevent this from happening. In protesting the potential consequences to the region; tribal leaders, local residents, and Wisconsin Government officials come together to form the largest, broadest multi-racial environmental alliance ever formed over a single issue in Wisconsin.
Director/Producer: Al Gedicks
Contact: Al Gedicks 210 Avon St. #4 La Crosse, WI 54603
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