Two short films focus on resistance and connection with land and water

Resistance and connection with land and water are the themes running through two short films to be shown this evening at UPEI.

“Water Warriors” and “Upstream, the Stewards of the Land” tell the compelling stories of First Nations as they and their allies protect land and water from oil and gas development in New Brunswick on one side of the country and British Columbia on the other. Doors open at 7 p.m. in MacDougall Hall, Room 242. Everyone is welcome – admission is by donation. The films are being presented by the

UPEI Environmental Studies Society with Cinema Politica Charlottetown.

In “Water Warriors”, members of the Mi’kmaq Elsipogtog First Nation and allies set up a series of road blockades in 2013 in response to the arrival in New Brunswick of Texas-based SWN Resources to explore for natural gas. After months of resistance, the community’s efforts not only halted drilling; they elected a new government and won an indefinite moratorium on fracking in the province.

In the second film, “Upstream, the Stewards of the Land”, Indigenous

peoples reaffirm their title along the proposed pipeline route that is planned to connect the fracked gas wells in Northeastern British Columbia with the Pacific coast. In 2016, filmmakers followed the route of the opposed pipelines, connecting with Indigenous and white settler activists, with elders and youngsters, and with hunters and fishers.

For more information, find the UPEI Environmental Studies Society and Cinema Politica Charlottetown on Facebook, or contact shelbykdowne@gmail.com.