Knowledge Network has greenlit four documentary projects for production and development, which the B.C. public broadcaster says aim to “reframe and reclaim hidden stories” from across the province.

Three-part limited series Reclaim My Skin is about reclaiming Indigenous women’s history and authority from different nations across Turtle Island. Marie Clements (pictured) is writing and directing in collaboration with the multi-award winning artist Pura Fé. The episodes will blend music, choreography and stylized documentary techniques.

The series is being produced by Clements and long-time producing partner Trish Dolman through RMS (BC) Media Inc. (a subsidiary of MCM2 and Screen Siren Pictures), in collaboration with Rezolution Pictures.

Illustrated Legacies is a documentary-animation hybrid drawing from oral traditions, recorded history and community memory. It follows the story of gunboat diplomacy on the west coast, centring on the sinking of the Kingfisher. The docuseries is produced by Two Hounds Media and directed by Cree/Métis filmmaker Tanner Zurkoski with producer Patti Poskitt.

Spring After Spring, directed and produced by Chifa Studios’ Jon Chiang alongside Joanna Wong, centres on Vancouver Chinatown legend Maria Mimie Ho, the founder of the Strathcona Chinese Dance Company. Her sudden passing leaves her three daughters to navigate their mother’s legacy as they come together to choreograph 100 dancers for the annual Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade.

The three-episode series, Seeking Saltwater (working title), follows the story of Chinese-Canadians in B.C.

Mina Shum (Meditation Park) is writing and directing the docuseries, produced by Daniel Berish, Ryan Mah, Joanna Wong and Leah Mallen of Black Rhino Creative. The series is the first project to be ushered into development from Stories (Un)told, a doc initiative from Knowledge, in partnership with Creative BC and funded by the Province of British Columbia.

Photo by Emily Cooper