Film about Barriere Lake Algonquin Reserve to be shown in Sharbot Lake

Jeff Green | Nov 05, 2014

Martha Steigman, a documentary film-maker from Halifax, will be presenting her film, Honour Your Word, at the United Church Hall in Sharbot Lake at 2 pm this Sunday (November 9). The title Honour Your Word is taken from a slogan that is used by residents at Barriere Lake, an Algonquin reserve that is one of the poorest in Canada. It asks the Province of Quebec and the Government of Canada to honour a conservation and resource-sharing agreement that was negotiated with them that was negotiated in 1991.

The film follows the lives of two young leaders: Marylynn Poucachice, a mother of five, and Norman Matchewan, the soft-spoken son and grandson of traditional chiefs. Both spent their childhoods on the logging blockades their parents set up to win a sustainable development plan protecting their land. Twenty years later, Norman and Marylynn took up the struggle of their youth, to force Canada and Quebec to honour their word.

The context for the barricades at Barriere Lake is familiar. The community was in disarray over leadership, and the Province of Quebec decided to move in and impose third party administration, angering both sides in the dispute.

Underlying the internal tension and anger over the imposition of governance, is the ever-present disconnect between the Algonquin community's connection to the vast tracts of land surrounding their tiny 59 acre reserve, and the arrangements that had been made between government and logging interests.

Director Martha Steigman spent four years shooting this documentary, which challenges stereotypes of “angry Indians.” Honour Your Word juxtaposes starkly contrasting landscapes - the majesty of the bush, a dramatic highway stand-off against a riot squad, and daily life within the confines of the reserve - to reveal the spirit of a people for whom blockading has become an unfortunate part of their way of life, a life rooted in the piece of Boreal Forest they are defending.

The film was released this past March, in the midst of many changes at Barriere Lake. There has been a recent Supreme Court ruling supporting the position of the current Band Council in its quest for land and resource rights outside of the context of the comprehensive land claims policy. A policy the federal government has been pursuing for 20 years that requires First Nations' Aboriginal rights to be extinguished with the signing of land claims agreements.

After the one-hour documentary is shown, Martha Steigman, Marylynn Poucaciche and up to three other Barriere Lake community members will be on hand to answer questions and share coffee and food with the audience.

The film is being presented by the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation in support of their sister community. Admission is free, and there will be an opportunity to donate to the community of Barriere Lake.