On a night when unity between people and with nature was celebrated, a simple but impactful collaboration between two drew all the attention.

Wiisgaapte (Bitter Smoke), a short film written and directed by Alexandre (Sacha) Trudeau, was premiered at Trent’s Wenjack Theatre on March 22 in conjunction with a book written by Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies professor emerita and Indigenous elder Dr. Shirley Williams called Shoolee: The Early Years.

Mr. Trudeau’s film has at its centre the Anishnaabe legend of Windigo, a monster born out of winter starvation who craves human flesh. Dr. Williams worked side-by-side with Mr. Trudeau during its production, ensuring the actors were pronouncing the Anishnaabemowin words correctly as well as providing invaluable contextual reference.

“I think it was a Mohawk friend of mine who said ‘If you’re going to do something bold, make sure you have a strong grandmother behind you,’” said Mr. Trudeau in reference to Dr. Williams’ invaluable support of, and contribution to, his inaugural fictional film project.

“Shirley and I share a lot in common. We’re both kind of shy people yet we are also strong. I admire her time travelling and her ability to remember all this. This is not my film. It belongs to a whole family of people who put themselves deeply into it. I hope I can keep telling these stories; going into the Canadian past and looking for who we used to be. I need more time travelling in my life.”

Along with the film’s screening, Dr. Williams also paraphrased a chapter from her book, the first of a planned trilogy written in both English and Anishnaabemowin. It recounts her childhood years in Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island, and how she learned from her elders about the land, plants, water and animals before being taken away and sent to a residential school.

The double launch event was presented as part of this year’s 50^th anniversary celebration of Trent’s Indigenous Studies program.