Our People Will Be Healed Film Sparknotes

“So much of history can be lost if no one tells the story – so that’s what I’m here to do. I tell the stories. This is my way of fighting for society change.”1 In the past, the voices of the First Nations, which are now the minority, have been silenced for too long. Consistently we see the media reporting on the vicious cycles that the Aboriginal people have been forced into, but make it seem as though they are there by choice. The media creates a biased picture for the majority of Canadians; a picture that is painted in harsh black and white strokes with no input from the grey area. In democracy, we need to have everyone represented equally, not some at the top of the pyramid and others consistently as the lowly bottom tier. The movie Our

The work of Canadian filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin shows the importance of recognizing the voices of the minority in a world where the views of the majority dominate our decisions.

The Canadian documentary Our People Will Be Healed is a prime example of the need for minority representation in democracy, which starts at an early age. This documentary gives viewers a glimpse into the Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre, which is a school in Norway House, Manitoba.2 At this school, Cree students are taught about their history and culture3 side-by-side the standard Manitoba curriculum.2 In a country where pluralism is valued above all else, we should be encouraged to hold onto our own identities, while learning about the heritage of those around us. This Canadian documentary is extremely important as it shines a light on the pride that should be

The media permeates our lives, as we get so much of our information about current and past events from it. The documentary Our People Will Be Healed by Alanis Obomsawin shows why the media needs to take a larger role in creating an equitable democracy for everyone. This film shows the importance of educating the youth in school about why their heritage matters to ensure that they feel that they are important to democracy in the future. It also shows why the work of the underrepresented must be highlighted. If the minority is making progress, rather than sitting in one dark place as the media makes it seem, then telling the story of those who are making change can inspire others to do the same and will allow for their voices to be heard. Lastly, the movie makes an attempt at educating other Canadians about the First Nations, something that is extremely important for the media to do. If other Canadians are educated about minority groups, they will care more about their stories and will actually want to hear their voices, rather than just trying to cover them up. This documentary overall shows that the media needs to take a different stance on First Nations and other minorities in order for their views to be represented in democracy. Obomsawin displays through this film that while the media often simply