KÍMMAPIIYIPITSSINI: The Meaning of Empathy
By Elle-Maija Tailfeathers, Canada
May 16th – May 22nd
Online screening

The urgent, astounding, much lauded new film by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers imbues the act of witnessing her community’s response to the opioid crisis with an ethic of empathy, love, and great care.

Framed within the ongoing and historical impacts of settler colonialism in Blackfoot territory, this intimate portrait illuminates the beauty, strength, and core spirit of Kainai First Nation as they implement harm reduction and healing based on the value of compassion. The crucial, collective work of medical professionals, first responders, and community members in active addiction and recovery is brought to light with full dignity, love, and respect as the community implements their own life saving solutions. Kímmapiiyipitssini also affirms Kainai’s origin as a powerful and thriving people — countering not only the settler, colonial view that blames Indigenous peoples for our own state of crisis, but also attributing the crisis as a direct and devastating impact of settler colonialism itself.

Kímmapiiyipitssini panel discussion with Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction
Wednesday May 18th, 7PM
Zoom
ASL interpretation will be available. 

ELLE-MÁIJÁ TAILFEATHERS

Writer, director, producer and actor Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers is a member of the Kainai First Nation (Blood Tribe, Blackfoot Confederacy) and Sámi. She began her film career with the 2011 short Bloodlandand has gone on to work as director and actor across a range of genres, from music video to narrative fiction. Her director credits include A Red Girl’s Reasoning, Bihttoš and c̓əsnaʔəm, the city before the city. The 2018 recipient of the Sundance Institute’s Merata Mita Fellowship, she describes her filmmaking as “a form of nonviolent direct action against issues like violence against women and degradation of Indigenous land.”