3 minute read
Welcome to the Festival
From the Musqueam Indian Band
ʔa: si:y̓ é nə siyéy̓ ə
Friends & Relatives:
ʔə i ce:p kʷətxʷiləm ʔi ʔə tə a šxʷməθkʷəy̓ əmaʔɬ təməxʷ, tə šxʷʔa əts tə shə əmi ə qən ʔiʔ əw tə šxʷʔaləqʷaʔ ct tə sqʷχʷaməx ʔiʔ tə səl̕ilwətaʔɬ məsteyəxʷ
Welcome to the ancestral territory of the hə əmi ə speaking people, along with our relatives Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh.
For thousands of years, Musqueam people have used storytelling as a way to share our teachings from generation to generation. Storytelling is an intrinsic part of who we are as Indigenous people. We are also social innovators, continually adapting and utilizing new technologies to build upon ancestral knowledge and practices that have sustained us for millennia.
Through fi lm and other media, Musqueam and other Indigenous peoples are fi nding new ways to share our stories, experiences, and struggles, and celebrate our successes. By actively supporting Indigenous creators—producers, writers, directors and actors—the fi lm sector makes space for us to share our unique perspectives.
When fi lm organizations and festivals centre and prioritize Indigenous fi lms, wider audiences have opportunities to learn the diverse stories and teachings of Indigenous peoples around the world. These platforms amplify Indigenous voices—voices that have been silenced for far too long—and help to ensure that new generations of Indigenous fi lmmakers will be inspired to continue creatively telling these important stories through fi lm.
Musqueam acknowledges that the Vancouver International Film Festival works hard to bring diverse local, national, and international stories to our beautiful territory, while also featuring Indigenous fi lms during the festival and all year round.
Congratulations, VIFF, on your 40th festival! We look forward to continuing to build our relationship and inspiring new Musqueam fi lmmakers.
Chief Wayne Sparrow
From the Squamish Nation
I7x̱ w ta newyá p siiy̓ ay-cht
To all our friends:
I chexw tl’iḵ iy chet kw’enmantú miwit itti temí xw
Hello and we welcome you to this land. Nilh s7ulh temí xw tl’a nimá lh Sḵ wx̱ wú 7mesh-ulh Ú xwmixw iy tl’a Xwmets’kwiy̓ em-ulh Ú xwmixw iy Selí l̓ wet-ulh Ú xwumixw.
This is the land of our Squamish People, and the Musqueam People, and Tsleil-Waututh People.
For many generations, Squamish People have created a culture of oral literature to teach our history, values, and advice to the next generation. Our storytelling traditions are how we inspire ourselves and our children to be a good person, to treat family, land, and waters with respect, and work together as a people. We celebrate all storytelling traditions, including new ways of telling stories through fi lm and cinema.
Squamish Nation recognizes the Vancouver International Film Festival’s work to bring diverse local, national, and international stories to our beautiful territory, while also featuring Indigenous fi lms during the festival and all year round.
Congratulations, VIFF, on your 40th festival!
Khelsilem Spokesperson
From the Tsleil-Waututh Nation
ʔo: si:y̓ é nə siyéy̓ ə,
Friends and Relatives, ʔə i ce:p kʷətxʷiləm ʔə tə a səlilwətaɬ təməxʷ, ʔiʔ əw tə šxʷʔaləqʷaʔ ct tə sqʷ ʷaməx ʔiʔ tə xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm məsteyəxʷ.
Welcome to the territory of the Tsleil-Waututh people, along with our relatives Squamish and Musqueam.
Congratulations to the Vancouver International Film Festival on the launch of its 40th season. Storytelling is at the heart of VIFF and it is also at the heart of our Tsleil-Waututh community. It is through stories that we connect with one another, and preserve our culture and traditions for future generations. Focusing on our next generation is one the main priorities for our Nation. Thank you to VIFF for the work they have done with the youth in our community. VIFF works closely with our Tsleil-Waututh Nation School to provide access to movies and documentaries, which contributes to teaching our next generation about the importance of stories. Thank you for being such a great partner to the Tsleil-Waututh community and congratulations on launching another meaningful season of this outstanding festival.
