People of a Feather focuses on Sanikiluaq, a community in the Canadian Arctic. Filmed over seven winters, the documentary plays with nonlinear time to tell a captivating tale of these people across the years. The educational documentary explores the relationship those on the Sanikiluaq Islands have with the diverse wildlife such as seals and ducks. We see how the villagers utilize duck feathers for their clothing, cementing their dependent and harmonious relationship with nature. The film's stunning cinematography captures the frozen beauty of Hudson's Bay. However, these stunning Arctic lands are threatened by the onslaught of global warming and climate change, as well as various hydroelectric projects in the area.
Colossal dams have been introduced to the rivers leading into these areas to generate electricity. This affects the Indigenous people that live there, as they heavily rely on the sea ice ecosystems. Through their studies and scientific efforts, this native community exposes the profound ecological ramifications of Quebec dams on the region's delicate ecology. All of the segments in the film, while covering different people in different parts of the world, have a profound and unifying theme: the fight for one's homeland.
The teacher's guide accompanying this film is extremely extensive and makes parallels with the seminal documentary Nanook of the North. The in-depth reading is organized into multiple chapters on a wide range of relatable topics from hydroelectricity, Inuit history, to anthropological filmmaking. It also includes numerous worksheets for students, along with discussion points and lesson breakdowns, making it easier for educators to design their curriculum around this film.
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What type of subject would this educational documentary resource be suitable for?
- Environmental Studies: It provides insights into the impacts of climate change and industrial development on indigenous communities in the Canadian Arctic.
- Indigenous Studies: The film explores the history, culture, and resilience of the Sanikiluaq community, offering a lens through which to examine indigenous rights, traditions, and the impacts of colonization.
- Geography: The documentary offers geographical perspectives on the Arctic region, including its environmental challenges and the effects of climate change on ecosystems and indigenous livelihoods.
How does this film contribute to a discussion of environmental or climate justice, and/or to environmental literacy?
By focusing on the Sanikiluaq community's reliance on the natural environment for survival, People of a Feather welcomes indigenous voices into discussions about environmental justice. The documentary reflects on how contemporary human actions have had a devastating impact on such communities and their fragile ecosystems. The film opens our eyes to an Arctic region that has a rich history which modernization and ecological change threaten to destroy.
Download the complete guide for free at https://globalenvironmentaljustice.com
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