The First Mile

Supported by the SSHRC-funded First Nations Innovation Project

Permanent Studios Wemotaci, Kitcisakik - Quebec

Tuesday, 4 October 2011, 10:16 PM

Fibre-optic broadband infrastructure supports a variety of digital applications -- including community-based media projects

In Quebec, the First Nations Education Council partnered with a variety of organizations to install broadband in 13 of their 22 member First Nations communities. These networks enable members of those communities to distribute and share digital media .

Permanent Studios is one of many examples where the upgraded networks linking First Nations IT Regional Networks to communities creates training opportunities and raises cultural awareness.

Using short films, Permanent Studios aims to promote First Nations culture in Quebec and throughout Canada. There are currently eleven films created by young filmmakers from the Atikamekw, Anicinabe (Algonquin), and Innu (Montagnais) nations. Six of these films feature a specific community, while the remaining five cover a range of topics from traditional hunting and trapping to the experience of contemporary Innu youth thriving and surviving in Northern Quebec.

Resources for Teachers

Alongside the videos are resources for teachers to use in their classrooms, which focus on First Nations-specific instruction in Quebec.

Permanent Studios operates out of two locations, Studio Wapikoni in Wemotaci and Studio Miskwadesi in Kitcisakik.

Permanent Studios is linked to the Wapikoni mobile project. Professional filmmakers at the community based-studios operate mobile training facilities, or caravans, that travel to remote communities. From these mobile training facilities, the professionals train community youth on all aspects of video production.

Find out more

Click here to find Wemotaci Studio on Google Maps.
Click here to find Studio Miskwadesi in Kitcisakik on Google Maps.