Documentary backdrop image for Kwanxwala - Thunder (2017)

Documentary backdrop image for Kwanxwala - Thunder (2017)

201728 minPGdocumentary

Kwanxwala - Thunder

201728 minPGdocumentary

Soccer is incorporated into Kwakwaka’wakw culture over several years, blending indigenous history with contemporary stories in Alert Bay.

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Soccer is incorporated into Kwakwaka’wakw culture over several years, blending indigenous history with contemporary stories in Alert Bay.

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Sarah Shamashdirector

Sarah Shamashwriter

Synopsis

Alert Bay serves as the backdrop for Kwanxwala - Thunder, a documentary that intertwines the history of the Kwakwaka’wakw with contemporary narratives of soccer and potlach. Filmed between 2009 and 2015, the 28-minute work presents the integration of soccer into Kwakwaka’wakw culture, despite its colonial origins. The film features multiple generations of female soccer players, illustrating their experiences and contributions to the sport within their community.

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