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Grantee: James Pakootas

Project Title: kʷu cnxiʔ: A Collaborative Film Project Empowering Indigenous Youth Through Filmmaking
Year awarded: 2024, Round 3

James Pakootas is collaborating with Indigenous youth to create powerful narratives that reflect their cultural heritage and vision for the future. In partnership with Cree Whelshula and the students of kʷu cnxiʔ, a land-based immersion school, Pakootas will help provide kʷu cnxiʔ students with a meaningful, hands-on experience in filmmaking while also creating a film that can inspire a nationwide movement toward Indigenous-led education. The students’ voices, captured and shared through this documentary, will shine a light on the importance of cultural grounding in contemporary education. With SAGA’s support, this documentary will be an influential tool in advocating for Indigenous education, allowing students to see themselves as powerful, creative agents of change.

SAGA funding will enable the purchase of essential filmmaking equipment, professional editing software, and teaching expertise, ensuring a high-quality production. The project will culminate in a film that showcases the power of Indigenous-led education and cultural preservation.