Tribute to Mi'kmaq History Month

About 200 students from the Truro area will see a special screening on Wednesday, Nov. 10, of a National Film Board documentary on Aboriginal teenagers in their final year of high school.

The film, entitled Innuvunga, I am Inuk, I am Alive, will be shown at the Empire Studio 7 theatre at the Millbrook Power Centre in Truro at 9:45 a.m. as a final tribute to Mi'kmaq History Month, which began Oct. 1.

The screening -- which is also open to the public -- will be of particular interest to Mi'kmaq students who took a film workshop as part of Mi'kmaq History Month. A short piece they created will be screened as a preview to Innuvunga, I am Inuk, I am Alive.

Innuvunga, I am Inuk, I am Alive is being presented by the Mi'kmaq MovieMakers program. The documentary tells the story of eight Aboriginal teenagers in their final year of high school and the challenges and joys these students experience in the months and days prior to graduation.

The film is the final tribute to the many successful events held to celebrate Mi'kmaq History Month in October. Among other events:

• The annual Treaty Day celebrations occurred at Province House on Oct. 1 and included the traditional flag-raising, speeches and award presentations. As part of Treaty Day, the Mi'kmaq also organized an evening of entertainment and a veteran's parade.

• The launch of an Aboriginal women's entrepreneurial tool-kit called Journey to Success was held on Oct. 26 in Millbrook. This event also saw the release of an Aboriginal woman's statistical profile.

• On each Tuesday in October, staff of the provincial government were invited to a lunch-and-learn series featuring members of the Mi'kmaq community discussing a wide variety of topics. Speakers included Don Julien, Dan Christmas, Ken Paul and Patti Doyle Bedwell.