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Deep Dive: Tracing Roots (2014)

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Tracing Roots
Tracing Roots follows master Haida weaver Delores Churchill as she attempts to replicate a spruce root hat found with the Long Ago Person Found, a 300-year-old traveler discovered in British Columbia. The film documents Churchill's search for knowledge and connection, which spans across cultures and borders, involving various artists, scholars, and scientists. The documentary raises important questions about ownership and interpretation of cultural artifacts. Through Churchill's work, it connects the past with present-day descendants identified through DNA testing in Canada and Alaska, emphasizing the significance of cultural heritage and the relationships between indigenous peoples and their ancestral items.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Delores Churchill, a master Haida weaver.
  • •Find out about the 300-year-old spruce root hat.
  • •Follow the journey of cultural connection and ownership.

Did You Know

•The Long Ago Person Found was discovered in British Columbia.
•The spruce root hat is over 300 years old.
•DNA testing revealed living descendants in Canada and Alaska.

Perfect For

Haida cultureIndigenous artCultural heritage studies