Film Review- Seeking Bimaadiziiwin

Film Review: Seeking Bimaadiziiwin ( Seeking the Good Life)

"Suicide is now among the leading causes of death in First Nations peoples in Canada between the ages of 10-24."

"Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (Seeking the Good Life) is a 31 minute film meant to be used as a therapeutic tool to promote understanding and start a discussion with youth. It is also an award winning film that illustrates the diversity within modern Anishinaabe culture and demonstrates the resiliency of First Nations people despite the many issues that they face on a regular basis. Issues represented in the film include racism, historic trauma, depression and suicide.

Life on the reserve, family problems and the death of a close friend pushes the main character of this film-Kaitlyn into a deep depression. Following a suicide attempt and a lengthy hospital stay in a city away from her reserve, she goes into group therapy with three other Anishinaabe youth. Though Kaitlyn and the other youth have a long way to go before recovering, the steps they make are enough to make you tear up inside.

Depression, suicide and racism are all very delicate issues but "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" does a great job of showing the diversity of First Nations youth, and how despite differences in their backgrounds and personal struggles, all the youth  in the film,  learn to find strength and support with each other. Especially poignant is when the youth all go to a drum circle, and you see the smiles on their faces as the drum beat fills the room they're in and they witness the singing and dancing.

This community film project was written by Michelle Derosier of Eagle Lake First Nation (Thunderstone Pictures) and was shot on Super 16mm film for maximum production value and filmed in 2007. 

"Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" was part of a multmedia initiative that includes a documentary and a workbook and was commissioned by the First Nations Initiative organization. The First Nations Initiative organization is dedicated to promoting, celebrating, and enriching First Nations culture and values.

For more information regarding this film, please visit the following link:

WWW.FIRSTNATIONINITIATIVE.CA

And please...don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help if you or a loved one needs it.