Wochiigii lo: End of the Peace

In the dead of winter, Diane Abel, a proud Dunne-Za grandmother, protests to defend her ancestral lands from the impending construction of yet another dam along the Peace River (Site C Dam). Chief Roland Willson shows up for every court battle as per his nation’s wishes. As lifelong residents of West Moberly, they are committed to remaining good stewards and in good relations with the land and the water. Site C will destroy what remains of their unique ecosystems, migration routes, burial grounds, fish, and hence forever destroy their cultural identity. This would violate the treaty they signed with Canada which states they can continue their traditional way of life as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the river flows. The provincial government vows to get Site C “past the point of no return” and issues a $420 million lawsuit against their own citizens who protest the dam - unheard of in Canadian history. BC Hydro has already strategized a “divide-and-conquer” approach by signing settlements with four out of the six nations who were initially involved in the fight. The First Nations, ranchers, farmers and supporters organize a cross-country caravan to appeal the case against Site C to the Supreme Court of Canada. The support gained is overwhelming, and leads them to have hope that their appeal will be heard. They are not your typical environmental activists, but the proverbial “cowboys and Indians” banding together to protect the Treaty 8 land they rightfully share.

All of the appeals are dismissed. However, political shifts lead to a new Premier creating new hope. When the courts abruptly overturn provincial decisions on the premise that Site C is not in the public interest, a glimmer of hope is offered to Diane, Chief Roland, and the members of West Moberly. Site C could be permanently put to rest. Despite the new government's promises, Site C is officially declared “past the point of no return” and the dam’s construction will proceed as planned. In an act of solidarity, all forty nations of Treaty 8 gather for the first time. They want to honour the treaty that was signed in 1899, to protect the water, the land, the treaty, and their cultures. A final court date is set to invalidate this decision (and save their culture from extinction) is set for 2022 – will Diane and Chief Roland’s efforts be enough?

QUOTES
It's crazy that First Nations even exist today. It's out of sheer will that we're still here. They tried to remove the Indian in the people at Residential schools, they were going to beat the Indian out of the child and take their culture away, make them speak English, cut their hair off, you know, do all that stuff and that didn't work. We’re still here. Now they're trying to take the land away from us. Because we're people of the land you can't separate us from the land. We are one in the same, we're as part of the system as …the fish and how the water runs. 
Chief Roland Willson

Our grandfathers signed the Treaty based on honour, and they believe that they were doing the right thing for us, that they are taking care of you know the future generations. There is a lot of faith and trust. We keep holding on to that faith and trust that they're going to do the right thing, but they keep disappointing us. I feel like it's (our) last chance to fight for this. Do our people have to go and stand in the water? Is it going to come to that? I pray to God that doesn't happen, but I know that if it comes to that, that's what we'll do. Maybe all of these Chiefs will be there too. 
Diane Abel

Director’s Statement - Heather Hatch, Director/Producer/Writer
In making Wochiigii lo: End of the Peace, I sought to document juxtapositions that exist within our country – and how those contradictions impact Indigenous lives. I wanted audiences to see a powerful testimony/bear witness to an epic political and activist struggle that many Canadians know little about beyond scattered headlines.

I explore two fundamental Canadian truths: the collective memory of Indigenous Nations' continued struggle versus the historical narrative of Canada as a peaceful and prosperous nation for all. This film looks at the West Moberly First Nations and their fight to maintain their Indigenous identity in the face of Canada's colonial structures. In simple terms, Canada continues to apologize for stepping on the proverbial Indigenous foot while, well, standing on their other foot.

The resilience of West Moberly First Nations and their willingness to share their lived experiences with me has opened my eyes as a filmmaker. It is a gift that every storyteller and citizen of our country should be so lucky to have – and I am honoured to share that experience with you.

This documentary has been near to my heart for five years and this process has granted me the immense privilege of trusting relationships with members of West Moberly First Nations.

Through them, I learned the absolute importance of consultation ethics to the craft of truth telling, and it is fundamental to my values as a documentary filmmaker. Their point of view is intimate, exciting and full of love – conveying their reverence for their land and water. The exclusive footage of their on-the-ground experience could not have been obtained without mutual trust and respect. This allows me to continue in the friendship of protocol with them, and for that I am continually thankful.

Through this small window of an indigenous community the complexity of how and why first Nations in Canada are fighting serious human rights issues in 2021 is revealed. My hope is that the Treaty is understood as a very important basis for the foundation of Canada and needs to be upheld as a treaty between sovereign nations like a treaty between France and Britain. This story is real and we can still do something about it, an Ethnocide does not have to be committed here. Let's create change together and demand better of ourselves and our government.