Carrier Sekani Family Services unveiled Stories of Hope and Strength, a powerful film series amplifying the voices of Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ2+ communities Thursday night at the Prince George Playhouse and later on social media and YouTube.
The project changes the narrative of the ongoing crisis of violence toward Indigenous peoples, sharing personal stories of resilience, healing, empowerment and hope.
The series will serve as a call to action and a platform for storytelling in the face of a disproportionately high rate of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ2+ members.
Within the films the focus will be lived experiences, cultural strength, and unbreakable spirit of survivors, families, and future leaders.
“Our stories are not just statistics,” Mary Teegee-Gray, Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) executive director of Child & Family Service, said.
“This film series was created to remind the world that behind every number is a young woman with a story, a community with strength, and a culture with deep-rooted resilience. These films are about the power, beauty, and brilliance of our people.”
The launch of Stories of Hope and Strength will be accompanied by a special screening event, where members of the public, advocates, and the filmmakers behind the stories will gather to honour those affected by violence and to discuss meaningful actions to support the Calls for Justice. The films, created by Indigenous filmmakers, focus on personal journeys of healing, shedding light on how communities across Canada are standing together to support one another and create safer, hopeful futures for generations to come.
“The strength of these stories are an inspiration, and a symbol of our resiliency,” Julie Daum, CSFS executive director of Justice, said.
“These stories are a reminder of how far we have come, but also how much work is left before we have justice. There are 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and it is our intention with this film series to encourage action and response. What will you do to stop these injustices from happening again?”
This project is part of a larger effort by CSFS to support the calls to justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). It aims to foster dialogue and inspire action by sharing the stories that often go unheard. After the launch event, each film in the series will follow an episodic release on social media and YouTube. Follow the Facebook page for updates at www.facebook.com/StoriesOfHopeandStrength.
