b'ART & MEDIAFirst Nations film, literature, music and moremaking a splash across the countrySCREENFREEDOM ROADFreedom Road is a five-part documentary series about Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and their battle to build a road after their community was forcibly relocated and cut off from the mainland over 100 years ago. Freedom Road was an eight-year effort between Shoal Lake 40 and the Federal, Provincial and Winnipeg governments, as well as close to 20 First Nations and the International Joint Commission. Directed by Shoal Lake 40 member Angelina McLeod, the series details the multi-generational effort to reconnect their community to the rest of the world. JORDAN RIVER ANDERSON, STORIES ARE IN OUR BONESTHE MESSENGERLegendary Alanis Obomsawins 53rd film follows theStories Are in Our Bones offers incredible real-life story of Jordan River Anderson.a personal journey as director His short life encountered issues with the federal andJanine Windolph and her provincial government arguing over who was responsiblechildren connect with the for his care while in hospital. The lack of support led toland and their heritage, the family and Indigenous activists creating Jordansrediscovering their history Principle, legislation that forces equitable access toby learning the stories government-funded services for First Nations. The filmpassed down, or perhaps features moving testimonials from children who have beenlost, through generations.affected by the Principle shared with his family. Over the years, I learned that the memories of our ancestors are in our DNA and can be accessed, but we forgot how to do that, Windolph told the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). This made me realize that we are reflections of our ancestors, even if we have not always been handed down the storiesthat somehow the knowledge is still inside us.80 The Circle Winter Issue 1 2020'