The celebration special ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl (Come Toward the Fire), the musical tribute Buffy Sainte-Marie Starwalker (pictured) and Drew Hayden Taylor and Paul Kemp’s documentary The Pretendians are among the newly announced CBC original programs lined up for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The pubcaster, along with APTN and Hollywood Suite, are planning all-day, Indigenous-led programming in commemoration of the federal holiday on Friday (Sept. 30). CBC’s original programming also includes Erica Daniels’ doc Bimibatoo-Win: Where I Ran, and Myfanwy Davies’ short doc The Elders.

The one-hour ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl, which translates to “come toward the fire” from the Musqueam language, is centred on the tradition of gathering around a fire inside the traditional big house in Coast Salish Territory. It was recorded earlier this month at the two-day celebration of the same name at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (University of British Columbia in Vancouver). Curated by CBC Music Reclaimed host Jarrett Martineau, the celebration will have artists, speakers, and dance groups from Musqueam and Indigenous nations.

Buffy Sainte-Marie Starwalker honours the life and work of the eponymous Cree Canadian-American singer-songwriter and activist. The 90-minute special is produced by Insight Productions in partnership with The National Arts Centre, Paquin Entertainment and Slaight Music for CBC and its Gem streamer. It was recorded on Sept. 16 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Buffy Sainte-Marie Starwalker includes performances of Sainte-Marie’s songs by Indigenous musicians such as Crystal Shawanda, The Halluci Nation, Jeremy Dutcher, Leela Gilday, Logan Staats, Marie-Mai, William Prince, and Zoey Roy. It also has special appearances by CBC’s Duncan McCue; actor Tom Jackson (Outlander); Sarah Midanik, president and CEO of The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund; producer ShoShona Kish; filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin (The Messenger); and Canadian astronaut and neurologist Dr. Roberta Bondar.

The Pretendians was directed by Taylor (Cottagers & Indians) and Kemp (Nike’s Big Bet), who also produced the doc under Toronto-based banner Paul Kemp Productions. Taylor also serves as an executive producer. It was commissioned by CBC’s The Passionate Eye documentary series, with financial support from the Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates and the Canada Audio-Video Certification Offices. The doc follows Taylor as he travels across Canada to investigate why someone would fake or counterfeit an Indigenous identity.

Bimibatoo-Win: Where I Ran, directed by Daniels, is a CBC original documentary. It follows a residential school survivor from Berens River First Nation as he remembers the harsh 80‐kilometre journey he had to take during a blizzard in Manitoba. Bimibatoo-Win is part of CBC Gem’s Truth and Reconciliation Collection, which became available on Tuesday (Sept. 27).

The Elders for CBC Gem follows Davies as she interviews Indigenous elders from Mi’kmaw, Wolastoqey and Passamaquoddy communities to share their stories as knowledge keepers, educators and historians.

Meanwhile, APTN will broadcast 35 hours of special programming ranging from educational feature films to documentaries and the commemoration special Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Featuring a gathering at LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa, the one-hour Remembering the Children was created in partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. It is produced by Vanessa Loewen and Desiree Single of Winnipeg’s Animiki See Digital Production with funding from Heritage Canada.

The special was hosted by Inuit-Canadian musician Madeleine Allakariallak and actor Charles Bender, who will present across three languages: English, French and Inuktitut. Remembering the Children will begin with a spirit walk, followed by a procession and personal remembrances, artistic reflections, and calls to learn about residential schools. It will serve as an “opportunity for Indigenous peoples to grieve, heal and educate on residential schools and its impact,” according to a news release.

Remembering the Children will be broadcast live on all of APTN’s channels as well as its broadcast partners including Accessible Media (AMI-tv), Blue Ant, CHCH, Rewind and Silver Screen Classics, CPAC, Hollywood Suite, CTV News, OUTtv, Radio-Canada, Rogers, Super Channel – Heart & Home, Fuse, Uvagut TV, and CBC with coverage of the event hosted by CBC News chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault.

Hollywood Suite’s all-day programming includes the broadcast premiere of the documentary feature The Long Ride Home, directed by Steve Haining and produced by Haining’s banner CreateOf Films, in association with QBow and Factory Film Studio. It follows an Indigenous group as they embark on a 600-kilometre horseback journey in an attempt to educate, bring awareness to their missing women and children, and ignite change.

Other projects included in the special programming are Jeremy Torrie’s supernatural horror The Corruption of Divine Providence, Stephen S. Campanelli’s First Nations feature Indian Horse, and Darlene Naponse’s First Nations drama Falls Around Her, among others.

Image courtesy of CBC