Deconstructing land acknowledgements: from oral to cinematic expression.

Area of Science:

• Indigenous Studies
• Film Studies
• Cultural Geography

Background:

• Land acknowledgements are contemporary statements recognizing Indigenous peoples' connection to their traditional territories.
• The genre of land acknowledgements involves narratives about selfhood and place.
• Oral and cinematic forms of land acknowledgement may convey distinct stories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the narrative functions of land acknowledgements in Indigenous cinema.
• To analyze how Indigenous filmmakers acknowledge territories in their films.
• To compare cinematic land acknowledgements with oral ones.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Indigenous films: Falls Around Her (2018), Blood Quantum (2019), and Kayak to Klemtu (2017).
• Examination of how filmmakers integrate land acknowledgements into their cinematic narratives.
• Discussion of the purpose and intention of contemporary land acknowledgements.

Main Results:

• Indigenous cinema actively foregrounds land acknowledgements, situating them as central to the narrative.
• Filmmakers utilize cinematic techniques to acknowledge territories where films are set.
• Indigenous films challenge the perception of treaty agreements as solely historical events.

Conclusions:

• Indigenous filmmaking emphasizes the ongoing relationship between Indigenous peoples and their lands.
• Cinematic land acknowledgements serve as a powerful tool for asserting presence and connection.
• The study highlights the unique storytelling capabilities of film in conveying land-based narratives.