CASE STUDY

Haisla First Nation

Cultural Awareness and Preservation 

Engage

Many Indigenous children and adults are “Disconnected” from Culture, Language and Way of Life.  Those who are preserving Cultural ways, struggle to find ways to get people “reconnected” to a way of life in which Grandparents and Ancestors were denied.  Additionally, many Indigenous communities are finding it increasingly challenging to preserve Culture, Languages, and Ways of Life when band members leave communities and become disconnected from incommunity activities.  

Now, communities across Canada are exploring ways to leverage technology in an effort to increase awareness of and to preserve Culture and Heritage. It is especially important not only within communities but also in government, private industry, and academia.   

In the Haisla Nation of Northwestern British Columbia, the Culture and Language Department holds an annual Culture Camp to introduce young people to traditional ways of living. Additional events are hosted for the community to come together and truly live out and express their vibrant culture. These events are a great opportunity to carry forward and teach important aspects of the Haisla culture and were identified as an opportunity for digitalization and archival.   

“With the future ahead of us with our partners & families walking beside us, our Ancestors behind us, there’s nothing we can’t do”
Shelley Bolton kelásu nugʷ’á (I am called Shelley Bolton)
Gáiqelan c̓imáuc̓ix̄I (I originate from “snag beach”)

Educate

Storytelling is a pillar of the Haisla culture, and the Haisla Nation Council (HNC) saw an opportunity to share culturally significant stories of traditions, celebrations, and events in the community through a series of short videos. In addition to helping in the preservation of language, music, and , traditions, digital assets such as video and other media can be shared with band members and the general public through a variety of channels to educate and create awareness.  

The Haisla Nation Culture Department has a strong relationship with the   Kitamaat Valley Education Society (KVES) and engaged them to assist in leading this project. KVES engaged a local videographer from the Haisla community, Lee Wilson Productions, alongside Xpan to work together with the Haisla Culture Department to develop a creative approach that honours the Haisla Nation.  

KVES worked with the Haisla Culture Department to secure funding from local industry partner, Rio Tinto Aluminum (RTA), and together, presented an application for the Rio Tinto Aluminum Canada Fund.  Fortunately, grant funding was secured, and RTA was honoured to support the project. Additionally, all involved vendors offered reduced rates and a preferential cost structure to ensure the viability of the undertaking.  

The collective of the Haisla Nation Culture Department, KVES, Lee Wilson Productions, and Xpan worked together on all aspects of project planning, design, development, and production.  

Lee Wilson provided videography services to shoot footage of the camps, as well as interviews. The involvement of the Haisla Culture Department leadership and community members was especially important, as the videos were unscripted, relying on individuals to tell stories in their own words. The addition of original music, written and performed by Haisla artists, Shelley Bolton and the Haisla Braid respectively, provided an impactful and moving tone throughout. In addition to creative direction, Xpan provided video post-production services to bring all assets together to deliver the final product, while KVES provided important project oversight and coordination.   

“Collaborating with the Haisla Nation Culture Department, Lee Wilson Studios and Xpan Interactive on the cultural video project was an exceptional experience.  The final product was a stunning visual narrative that helps to preserve Haisla culture, language and music.  Xpan's attention to detail, dedication to authentic storytelling, combined with Lee’s innovative videography captured the Haisla Nation Culture Camp’s rich culture beautifully.  Kitamaat Valley Education Society is so very honoured to have had an opportunity to partner on this project and we highly recommend Xpan for their passion for storytelling and commitment to excellence. We look forward to future collaborations and are confident they will continue to deliver outstanding results.”
Carrie McKay
Interim Executive Director, Kitamaat Valley Education Society

Empower

Two videos were produced. One features the culturally significant practice of creating regalia, wardrobe items that are used in ceremonies and are a sign of the lineage. The second video looks at the activities and outcomes of the culture camps.  

The videos are being shared by HNC on social media channels, internal websites, and at community events. These will also be important assets for the preservation of HNC’s heritage, to be stored in archives for future generations, as a permanent record of any future applications.   

“As an organization, Xpan has been honoured to support training and Indigenous cultural awareness through many of our projects. This one was particularly special for me as I was born and raised in the community of Kitimat. The Haisla community of Kitamaat Village was integral in my upbringing and my career began with direct support from their community. These projects are incredibly important to help build a library of assets that speak with an Indigenous perspective to share and preserve their culture.”
Ron Thiele
Founder and CEO, Xpan
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