AABIZIINGWASHI TOUR

This screening is part of Aabiziingwashi (Wide Awake): NFB Indigenous Cinema on Tour. Throughout 2017, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is offering the films in its exceptional collection of 250+ Indigenous-made works to all Canadians — for community screenings! These are the stories of our land, told by First Nations, Métis and Inuit filmmakers from every region of the country. Powerful, political, and profound, these films will initiate and inspire conversations on identity, family, community, and nationhood.

The Road Forward

MARIE CLEMENTS | 2017 | 101 MIN 09 SEC

The Road Forward, a musical documentary by Marie Clements, connects a pivotal moment in Canada’s civil rights history — the beginnings of Indian Nationalism in the 1930s — with the powerful momentum of First Nations activism today.

Clements paints an electrifying picture of how a tiny movement, the Native Brotherhood and Native Sisterhood, became a powerful voice for social, political and legal advocacy, eventually effecting profound change at the national level. The Road Forward’s stunningly shot musical sequences, performed by an ensemble of some of Canada’s finest vocalists and musicians, seamlessly connect past and present with soaring vocals, blues, rock, and traditional beats.

The Road Forward is a rousing tribute to the fighters for First Nations rights, a soul-resounding historical experience, and a visceral call to action.