Transforming a 700-year-old cedar tree into an ocean-going dugout canoe was about more than building a boat.
That process and those who made it happen are at the centre of the documentary film Slhexun’s tthu Xpey’ (Medicine of the Cedar), which will première tonight, July 4, at the Port Theatre.
Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services documented the canoe carving process over a year.
“In the process, they also captured the transformation of indigenous youth as they followed the path of their ancestors, learning skills and teachings that have been passed down the generations over thousands of years,” noted an event press release.
The 40-minute film follows master carver Luke Marston, knowledge keeper Lawrence Mitchell and a group of youths as they carve the canoe and prepare to take it on an ocean voyage to Puyallup, Wash.
A community celebration was held in fall 2017 in Stz’uminus First Nation territory to celebrate the partnership between Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services and artists Luke and John Marston.
RELATED: Marston brothers carving 40-foot canoe for Kw’umut Lelum to use in Tribal Journeys
At tonight’s premiere, those in attendance will get to see the canoe and performances, and there will be a question-and-answer with a panel of guests including filmmaker Peter Campbell.
The screening is free and open to the public and starts at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at this link.
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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