Filmmaker Linda St. Pierre is in the midst of production on the mid-length CBC Doc and CBC North documentary Bets’ųne Yįneshą (His Grandmother Raised Him).

The doc is written, directed and produced by St. Pierre through her prodco Phoenix Skye Productions. It follows her attempt to preserve a traditional story of the Dënesųłiné First Nations by hunting for migrating caribou with her father Martin St. Pierre (pictured left) along with actor Asivak Koostachin (Angela’s Shadow, pictured right). The 44-minute doc also features animated segments and interviews with elders from St. Pierre’s community.

Bets’ųne Yįneshą (His Grandmother Raised Him) completed its first leg of filming in Lac Brochet, Man. on the Northlands Denesuline First Nation from Jan. 22 to Jan. 24. Production will head back to Manitoba in February, a spokesperson for the film told Playback Daily. 

Greg Crompton, head producer of Vancouver-based Artaban Productions, and legendary documentarian Alanis Obomsawin are on board as producers. Production is supported by CBC and Creative BC.

In a statement, St. Pierre said she wanted to show the connection to the main food source the Dënesųłiné people have survived centuries on.

“I want to leave a documentary for future generations to look at and be proud of our caribou and us as Dënesųłiné people,” said St. Pierre. “I want my elders to watch it and be able to hear it in our Dënesųłiné language.”

St. Pierre is also in post-production on the short Choices, which was selected for Telus Storyhive’s Indigenous Storyteller Edition.

Image courtesy of Phoenix Skye Productions