Film Screening: Wilfred Buck

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Join us for a free film screening of Wilfred Buck (2024), an award-winning hybrid documentary feature by director Lisa Jackson, including introductory remarks from the director via Zoom.

Lisa Jackson's portrait of Cree Elder Wilfred Buck moves between earth and sky, past and present, bringing to life ancient teachings of Indigenous astronomy and cosmology to tell a story that spans generations. Adapted from Buck’s rollicking memoir I Have Lived Four Lives, the film weaves together stories from his life, including his harrowing young years of displacement and addiction. Seamlessly fusing present-day scenes with cinematic re-enactments and archival footage, this intimate yet expansive documentary takes us on an inspiring journey to the space beyond, and to the spaces between us all.

This free film screening is open to all; advanced registration is encouraged. To register, please email [email protected] with the subject Wilfred Buck and the number of attendees.

This event is organized in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30, and presented in partnership by Richmond Art Gallery, the City of Richmond, Richmond Public Library and Cinevolution Media Arts Society. The film is provided courtesy of the National Film Board and Door Number 3 Productions.

About Wilfred Buck:

Wilfred Buck is an Ininiw (Cree) astronomer, author, educator, addictions consultant, Knowledge Keeper and lecturer originally from Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN). He graduated from the University of Manitoba with two degrees in Education and has 25 years of experience as an educator, working with students from kindergarten to university. He also worked as a science facilitator for 15 years at the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, where he did extensive research on Ininiw Acakosuk (Cree stars/constellations).

Currently, Wilfred gives planetarium presentations using his mobile planetarium, in addition to lectures and keynote presentations on Indigenous astronomy and Indigenous worldviews. He is considered the foremost authority on Indigenous astronomy in the world.

Wilfred has written three books: Tipiskawi Kisik: Night Sky Star Stories (2018), the semi-autobiographical I Have Lived Four Lives (2021), on which Lisa Jackson’s documentary Wilfred Buck is based, and Kitcikisik (Great Sky): Tellings That Fill the Night Sky (2021).

About Lisa Jackson:

Lisa Jackson is an Anishinaabe filmmaker whose work has garnered two Canadian Screen Awards, been nominated for a Webby and screened at top festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, Berlinale and Hot Docs. Her VR experience Biidaaban was viewed by more than 25,000 people, while her film Indictment won Best Doc at imagineNATIVE and is one of CBC’s top watched documentaries. She won the 2022 Chicken & Egg Award and the 2021 DOC Vanguard Award, and has an MFA from York University.

Links

• Richmond Art Gallery richmondartgallery.org

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City of Richmond

The City of Richmond recognizes that the arts are integral to vibrant communities. The arts not only give depth and meaning to our lives — they are cornerstones of social and economic prosperity. Participation in the arts helps us to get to know each other, celebrate our differences, and impacts our health, economy, and overall well-being in remarkable ways.

The City works in partnership and association with local cultural organizations, artists and residents to help sustain and develop cultural heritage and individual expression as well as provide a wide range of cultural experiences and opportunities to residents and visitors.

Arts Services, part of the Department of Arts, Culture and Heritage, consists of the Richmond Arts Centre, Richmond Art Gallery Richmond Cultural Centre, Richmond Public Art and Community Cultural Development.

To learn more about the Richmond Arts Strategy, visit: HowArtWorks.ca

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