" . . Our food was given to us by the Creator. We made sure that we thanked the Creator and as well the animal spirits for making themselves available."

Bernie Francis

“. . I am amazed at how close our ancestors came to being drastically reduced. For them

to have survived is testimony

to their resilience.. . ."

Roger Lewis

" . . .food has been used as a weapon...."

Salina Kemp

" . . .We are in Canada. Nobody should be going without food . . .

Pamela Glode - Desrochers

Salina Kemp and Kimm Kent

Wi'kupaltimk - Feast of Forgiveness

Many Canadians go hungry. Tragically Indigenous Canadians are twice as likely as other

Canadians to experience hunger and want in their lifetimes. Wi’kupaltimk - Feast of Forgiveness, looks at the experiences of urban indigenous people residing in Kjipuktuk (Halifax). Salina Kemp,

a Masters student, mother and Mi'kmaw from the Millbrook First Nation, takes us on a journey through all aspects of the "food security" issue - both historically and in the present.

Wi’kupaltimk is a spiritual path. In the words of Mi’kmaw linguist and Elder, Bernie Francis,

“There is sacredness about this concept in the form of ‘forgiveness.’ Wi'kupaltimk can be

extended in meaning as in 'feeding one another's spirit’ since it's the reciprocal form of the verb....It's difficult to capture in three words—‘Forgiveness Feast while extending kindness

and compassion’ is another way of expressing it.”

The film celebrates of the resilience of the Mi’kmaw, and Indigenous people in general; the

rich landscape and resources which were available to them prior to colonization, the

medicines and wild food that are still available and the sacredness of the food that

sustains human beings spiritually, culturally, and physically.

While addressing many of the current issues of poverty, isolation, and the food insecurity

that many urban indigenous people face, the film is ultimately about how people can and do respectfully connect with the urban landscape as a source of food and medicine, how they

grow their own, how all of this involves re-connecting with the knowledge of the Elders, t

he support of the community, and the cultural importance of “feast” which is at the heart

of that community.

Producer - Trudy Sable

Gorsebrook Research Institute - Saint Mary's University

Pamela Glode-Desrochers

Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre

Directors - Salina Kemp and Kent Martin

Watch Trailer: https://vimeo.com/165764097

Watch Film: https://vimeo.com/162492841

OFFICIAL ENTRY at The Atlantic Film Festival 2016

DEVOUR Film Festival 2016