Annie Mae Aquash’s spirit lives on
Screening of film provides commentary on the times, then and today
The Cineplex theatre was packed for Catherine Anne Martin’s film on Annie Mae Pictou Aquash.
“I want life to be celebrated and hopefully some day there will be resolve to the case and it might be 100 years from now,” Martin said.
The director, Millbrook’s Catherine Anne Martin, answered questions following the screening of “The Spirit of Annie Mae,” released in 2002.
“It’s so hard to talk about something that is still unjust,” said Martin.
“This film is great because it’s for healing and to keep us aware that this issue existed then and today.”
Wednesday marked National Canadian Film Day 150 and the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq Millbrook First Nation
had a free screening of “The Spirit of Annie Mae” at Cineplex Cinemas Truro.
Martin’s film gives an unflinching account of the murder of Aquash. John Graham and
Arlo Looking Cloud are currently serving life sentences for their involvement in Aquash’s death. The film documents the role of the American Indian Movement and the cloud of mystery surrounding Aquash’s death. It is both a look at AIM in the 1970s and an important commentary on Aboriginal life in Canada today.
In attendance were people from Truro, Millbrook and Indian Brook, showing support for the film and Aquash’s surviving family.
“There is a lot more to know and we need to teach the public, not only the things we know, but there is information to come,” said Millbrook Band Chief Bob Gloade.
“It has to be told from a native perspective and not anyone else’s.”
Martin screens “The Spirit of Annie Mae” to her women’s study class at Mount Saint Vincent University.
She submitted a proposal to the National Film Board of Canada to make a sequel, but was not granted approval