Members of the film crew pose for a photo at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health in Ottawa in March 2015, on a film shoot of indigenous singing and dancing for the documentary (front row from left): Thomas Therrien (editor), Nick Printup (writer, director, producer), Justin Buetter (cinematographer),Taylor Warden-Ogilvie (sound), Ashley Fava (production manager/producer) and Matt Fry (sound).

Pictured in the second row are Daniel Printup (Wabano director of operations/outreach services), David Charette (Indigenous artist), Aisha Printup (women’s traditional dancer), Rhonda Doxtator (jingle dress dancer), Monica Clair (jingle dress dancer), Jason Mullins (men’s traditional dancer), Winter Doxtator (hoop dancer) and Jillian Sutherland (women’s fancy shawl dancer).

 

For Niagara College student Nick Printup, his film about missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls isn’t only a student project, it’s a subject close to his heart.

As the writer, director and producer of Our Sisters in Spirit, a short documentary film that will be featured in a public screening at the College’s Welland Campus on Nov. 30, Printup wanted to explore the question of calling a national public inquiry to Canada’s missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, or whether there may be a better approach.

The Welland resident, who is originally from Ottawa, is passionate about the topic due to his connection to nine victims, through his family, friends and communities.

“Having been raised by my single parent mother along with my four sisters, I realized that they are highly at risk of becoming victims for the simple fact that they are indigenous women. It is an issue that directly affects everyone around me and it is a very real and scary subject,” he said. “I wanted to educate people on the issue and most importantly educate those who never heard of the issue before or have just come to learn about it.”

Printup who graduated from the College’s Broadcasting: Radio, Television and Film program in April 2015, and is currently enrolled in the International Business Management post-graduate program, launched the idea during his scriptwriting class in spring 2014. That fall, he pitched the idea of creating the documentary in his Film Production class, which selects three pitches for production each term, and gained support of his peers. It was completed in July 2015. While the College provides $1,600 for each film project in that class, Printup and his crew raised more than $12,500 after 30 days of online fundraising via crowd-funding Kickstarter, to enhance the quality of the project.

“Making this film has enhanced my learning experience at NC and has motivated me to pursue further education in business… it brought real life experience in terms of documentary film-making and running a business,” he said.  “The most rewarding experience about this project, for me, has been the ability to utilize my education as a tool to help my communities, my people and my family; and the opportunity to do more and take physical action to make a change, create awareness and educate the general public on a serious human rights issue.”

 

Attend the screening

The Niagara College screening on Nov. 30 is open to the College and the public. It will be held at the Welland Campus in room AHI 141 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The screening will be followed by a question and answer period with the student filmmaker.

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP online at:

getinvolved.niagaracollege.ca/form/start/8483

Or contact Jeff Sinclair, community engagement coordinator, at 906-641-2252 ext. 4610 (leave a message with your name and number of attendees).

Key crew members

The main crew members involved with the creation of the film are:

Nick Printup – writer, director, producer, sound editor  and narrator – graduate;

James Crowe – executive producer – second-year Film professor;

Ashley Fava – production manager/producer – Film Production graduate;

Justin Buetter – cinematographer/driver/logo designer;

Thomas Therrien – editor / second camera;

Kathryn Hawton – second camera;

Taylor Warden-Ogilvie – sound team;

Matt Fry –sound team;

Lindsay Pennett – assistant editor;

Shannon Dalby – production assistant;

Shelby Coval – production assistant – third year Film Production student;

Joe Dunphy – from Toronto, Revolution Recording – sound mixer;

Trace Hiyama – from Chicago – website designer;

Veronica Wilson – from Chicago – production assistance; and

Mitchel Corner – from Toronto – social media editor

More about Our Sisters in Spirit

The documentary features interviews with family and community advocates; Members of Parliament; Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau; Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Hon. Dr. Carolyn Bennett; Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chief, Arnold General; and researcher and author of An Awkward Silence, Maryanne Pearce, LL.D.

The film was supported by the First Nations Inuit and Metis Student Services and the Centre for Student Engagement and Leadership.

At the 2015 Niagara College Film, Radio and Television (FRATS) Awards show, the film won for Best Documentary and Best Cinematography. It has also been shown at local Sisters in Spirit vigils, at York University, and at the National Gathering of Our Sisters in Spirit held in Edmonton, Alberta.