“Mis-qui-Kiweninne- Red Face Man”

Update:

I will be replacing the temporary on screen yellow text with voice over narration soon, and adding a bit more to the "teaser" on the next version.

“Mis-qui-Kiweninne- Red Face Man”

The history of the Hudson’s Bay Company's Nicol Finlayson and the cultural and family legacy he left behind; from northern Ontario's Long Lake to historic Fort William (Thunder Bay), on to Pic River, Pic Mobert, Michipicoten and beyond. A work-in-progress documentary film and companion book to honor my great-grandmother Agnes Finlayson-Michano, and my Finlayson ancestors and Anishinaabeg/Cree/Ojibway relatives of Long Lake, Pic River and Pic Mobert, along the north shore of Lake Superior (Kitchigaming), Ontario.

By James M Fortier (Biigtigong Nishnaabeg/Pic River First Nation)

Teaser:

Link: https://vimeo.com/835843925?share=copy

This 90-minute documentary is the culmination of nearly thirty years of researching the history and legacy of HBC Chief Factor Nicol Finlayson (1794-1877). Our journey spans four Canadian provinces from Ungava Bay, Quebec to the Hudson's and James Bay watersheds in norther Ontario, through the historic Métis Red River (Winnipeg) region of Manitoba, and across the prairies to Touchwood Hills and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

I will be bringing a longer work in progress sample with me to Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Long Lake#58/Ginoogaming, Heron Bay/Pic River and hopefully Pic Mobert during the last two weeks of August 2023 to present it to relatives and our First Nation communities. I want and need your feedback, input, and support. This is your story; I am just a small strand of the intricate web that is the Finlaysons of Long Lake story and related families. I cannot bring this history and story to light without your guidance, support, and knowledge.

After your feedback and input I will return to California and over the next year complete the editing of the first fine cut of the film and return for community "sneak peek" screenings, hopefully in August 2024 at each location, Thunder Bay, Long Lake/Ginoogaming and Pic/Mobert.

This is an ideal opportunity to get the youth involved in the actual production of the documentary. I envision conducting an introductory video documentary workshop while I am visiting each reserve this August including at Long Lake/Ginoogaming, Pic River and hopefully Pic Mobert. The idea is to present the Finlayson video documentary project and conduct a basic hands-on workshop to enlist the youth to then go out and film and edit their own personal family connections to the fur trade era and specifically to Nicol Finlayson's legacy when applicable. Ideally, some will be Finlayson descendants themselves. For example, the yellow text in this teaser will be replaced with voice-over narration. How fantastic would be to find a young community member or emerging University film studies student to fill that role, especially if they are a descendant of Nicol Finlayson, or one of the connected families through marriage.

This approach is very similar to what Chantelle Richmond, and I did for the making of the "Gifts from the Elders" documentary at Batchewana and Pic River in 2010-2011. I would also like to get some youth at the Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay involved along the same lines. Please contact me if you can help in this outreach effort.

Because I don't live there, students will also be assigned to film specific footage, research the archives, gather and scan vitally needed historic photos, and create the artwork, animation, and music that I will need to complete the Finlayson documentary over the next year. Their video footage and other contributions and creative talents will then be incorporated into the final version I am editing from my home in California. Each student will receive a credit in the film. Its a win-win situation for all. I am very excited about the potential for this.

Once the film is completed, I will return, likely in the summer of 2025 and we will have premiere screenings in each community similar to "Gifts from the Elders "in 2012.

I am very excited about the potential for this project to teach our youth about this important history and provide them a platform that encourages and supports the technical and artistic expression of their own connection to this history, and the traditional territorial, familial, and cultural connections to the historic fur trade era and the legacy left behind by HBC Chief Factor Nicol Finlayson.

I will be creating a Facebook group page for this project soon to provide a central point of communications and the sharing of updates, ideas, logistics and more so stay tuned.

Miigwetch!

James M Fortier

Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson of Nicol Finlayson and Nancy Kanakashiwaite.