Siksika filmmaker shares Indigenous stories and music
By Brady Grove, Times Reporter
Brady Grove Photo
The production touched on themes of community and preservation of Indigenous culture. Following the presentation, those in attendance were given a chance to ask questions of Solway and one of the four musicians featured in the documentary, Darcy Turning Robe.
“Growing up, I knew all these amazing guitar players, singers and drummers, and they would have amazing talent. But when I turned on MuchMusic or MTV or listened to the radio, you didn’t hear them on mainstream media outlets,” said Solway. “When I started making film, it was a priority for me to always tell our stories and share our talent and do it the right way.”
The Intertribal Series was shot in October 2017; it is broken into four episodes that each run about eight minutes long and show musicians interviewing musicians from the Treaty 7 tribes that includes Siksika.
There were four artists featured with their own episode, but each artist was interviewed by another. Each episode highlighted aspects of an individual’s life and some of the challenges they faced as an Indigenous musician. It also showcased their craft singing or playing in-studio and in places that were important to them specifically.
Solway explained that Indigenous culture was passed down through oral tradition, which was easier to remember if it had a musical or rhythmic nature to it. This helped to grow a feeling of community or to teach morals. In the modern world, Solway said he feels it can be used to preserve Indigenous culture going forward.
“There’s always an imbedded lesson or meaning with a song,” said Solway. “Today we have a lot of different ways of sharing stories or songs.”
Turning Robe is a powwow singer who has been singing consistently since he was eight. When Solway approached him, he told Turning Robe he wanted him to share his powwow-style music on film. The singer was more than willing to do that, but as filming progressed, Turning Robe discovered he wanted much more out of the project. He wanted his people’s music and culture documented so other generations could see it and also to bring together Indigenous communities with other Canadians.
“This needs to be told, you need to document it, you need to keep saying your story, you need to keep reading books about us because that’s only going to bridge the gap. That’s what I wanted to see out of this,” said Turning Robe. “We’re not different. We just sing and pray different, that’s about it. We’re all the same.”
Turning Robe has already found some success outside of this film series. His music will be in the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 video game which is being released on Oct. 26.
“You don’t even know where you’re going to go with your music,” said Turning Robe. “When I’m singing, I’m singing right from here (heart).”
This was only the second showing of the Solway’s Intertribal Series. The other showing occurred in July 2018 at the Globe Cinema in Calgary.
Rachel Dick-Hughes, director of library services with Strathmore library, was pleased with the turnout and a chance to showcase Indigenous culture. The library has done some Indigenous programming with Mother Goose in the Park, but according to Dick-Hughes, a couple of barriers they’re facing are a lack of expertise with staff, and money.
“We wanted to delve into Indigenous programming and we really haven’t to any significant extent,” said Dick-Hughes. “We definitely have a ways to go into making sure our programming is culturally inclusive and relevant to where we are.”
There currently isn’t a way for people to access the film series, but Solway plans on making it available in the future.