History Television's chiefs series scheduled for viewing this fall

Page 25

Five of North America's First Nations leaders will be honored this fall in a series of documentaries on History Television.

"The series titles are Sitting Bull, Pontiac's Rebellion, The Worlds of Joseph Brant, Black Hawk War, and The Trial of Poundmaker," said Greg McIsaac, publicist at History Television.

"The stories are told from the First Nations perspective, in consultation with actual descendants, who appear in the films as well."

The viewers will see the desperation and anguish as the stories unfold, but pride is evident as well.

"It's important to History Television that the Canadian viewing audience be given the opportunity to view history from alternative perspectives."

Gala Films of Montreal produced the series and used independent film-makers for the work, including award-winning Gil Cardinal, who wrote and directed the episode on Joseph Brant. The powerful leader lived in the middle of changing times for the people of Six Nations in Ontario, including the loss of their homeland in New York's Mohawk Valley, and the subsequent re-settling in Canada. Brant attempted to bridge the gap between Aboriginal and English societies and had a huge impact on those times.

Tyrone Tootoosis plays the lead role in Poundmaker, which is shown on Oct. 27. The Saskatchewan man is a direct descendant of Poundmaker and has appeared in numerous films and television productions. In addition to an illustrious career as an actor, Tootoosis has researched, narrated, choreographed and produced a number of programs and projects on First Nations issues for radio, television, Web sites, and multi-media productions.

"We welcomed First Nations participation wherever possible and the episodes were shot on location as well," said McIsaac. The Poundmaker episode portrays events in the fateful spring of 1885 when Poundmaker sat shackled in a Regina courtroom, accused of participating in a rebellion against the Canadian government.

"Aided by Poundmaker descendants Gordon and Jim Tootoosis, and narrated by well-known Aboriginal personality Tom Jackson, the episode takes viewers through Poundmaker's early days on the Plains to the Regina trial," McIsaac said.

The Sitting Bull episode will launch the series on Sept. 29, and portrays the efforts of the Sioux leader as he resists Western expansion in the years following the Civil War in the United States. It will be followed by Pontiac's Rebellion on Oct. 6, which gives viewers a glimpse of the friendly relations that the chief and his people enjoyed with the French in the 1750s. A traumatic turn of events occurred when the English defeated the French on the Plains of Abraham.

"Pontiac refused to adhere to the unreasonable policies of the new conquerors and the result was the Royal Proclamation of 1763, which created a vast Indian sovereign territory," McIsaac said.

The Black Hawk War, scheduled for Oct. 20, follows a terrible journey (which nearly decimated the Sauk peoples) from their homelands in Oklahoma to the Illinois and Wisconsin areas in a bleak period of North American history. Black Hawk emerges as a devoted leader who helped sensitise many to the plight of Native peoples.

"History Television's Web site will offer an interactive component throughout the time that the series is showing," said McIsaac. The Web site address is www.historytelevision.ca.

"It makes for an interesting addition to a very meaningful viewing experience."

The films will be broadcast on Sunday nights from Sept. 29 to Oct. 27 and then repeated on each of the following Wednesdays.