Crazywater
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 – 7:30pm
Canada 2013. Dir: Dennis Allen. 56 min. HDCAM
In his latest work, shot mostly in Vancouver, Inuvialuit filmmaker Dennis Allen(My Father, My Teacher; CBQM) confronts “the elephant in the room”: the sensitive subject of substance abuse among First Nations people in Canada. A recovering alcoholic himself, Allen shares his own story and those of four others in this unflinching, nonjudgmental account of lives derailed by addiction. Paula, Desirae, Stephen, Alex, and the director bravely tell their own stories, in their own words; their tales of childhood trauma and families long troubled by a history of alcoholism are heartbreaking. But Allen also shows us that recovery is possible, with self-acceptance, family support, and a renewed commitment to Aboriginal traditions the keys to breaking the cycle.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Post-screening discussion with Dr. Naomi Dove and Dr. Shannon Tania Waters.
Dr. Dove is a Public Health Physician with the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Unit at the First Nations Health Authority. Dr. Dove works with the FNHA overseeing the mental wellness and substance use, early childhood development, chronic disease, and injury prevention areas.
Dr. Waters is Coast Salish and a member of Stz’uminus First Nation on Vancouver Island. Dr. Waters worked for four years as the Director of Health Surveillance at First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, and is now Acting Senior Medical Officer at First Nations Health Authority.
Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.