A documentary about a first nations community showing strength, forgiveness and resilience.

Review by Andie Karvelis:

When you’re a child, you rely on adults. You depend on them to feed you, clothe you, care for you and to teach you. You learn history in school from your teachers and you have no reason to doubt what the adult is telling you. It’s only later, when you’re older that you realize those teachings were unintentionally, ignorantly biased.

Ndazkoh was written, produced, directed and edited by Tracey Cochrane and it centers on the 1st nation indigenous people of the Ndazkoh tribe and the horrors they faced from settlers invading their land. This is not just a film about injustice. It’s about hope. Tradition. Community.

This film is beautiful in so many ways. First, the cinematography and camera work from John MacKenzie and drone footage from Rob Cochrane is gorgeous. It’s also beautiful because Tracey gave us an inside look at the ceremonies and traditions of the Ndazkoh 1st nation people. The interviews alone are amazing, meeting Chief Leah Stump and learning about the resilience this community has is emotionally moving.

George Santayana once wrote “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. While we cannot change past events, we can make amends and learn from the mistakes our forefathers made. Bravo, Tracey. This film is invaluable, educational and heartfelt. I absolutely loved it.