My Name Is Kahentiiosta

199529 min 50 secFilm: Documentary

G

Direction: Alanis Obomsawin

Production: Alanis ObomsawinDon Haig

Script: Alanis Obomsawin

Arrested after the 78-day armed standoff during the 1990 Oka crisis, Kahentiiosta, a young Kahnawake Mohawk woman proud of her centuries-old heritage, is detained four days longer than the other women. Her crime? The prosecutor representing the Quebec government will not accept her Indigenous name. From the perspective of Kahentiiosta, we witness the arrest and detention of those who withdrew to the Treatment Centre after the Canadian Army advanced, and we learn why Kahentiiosta was prepared to die to protect the land and trees sacred to the Mohawk people of Kanehsatake.

Subject categories


  • Indigenous Peoples in Canada (First Nations and Métis) > DiscriminationLand Claims and RightsQuébec and OntarioRelations with Government and Security ForcesReservesWomen
  • Law and Crime > DiscriminationIndigenous PeoplesWomen and the Legal System
  • Politics and Government - Canada > Indigenous ConcernsMunicipal Politics and GovernmentQuébec
  • War, Conflict and Peace > Indigenous Concerns
  • Women - Portraits > Indigenous WomenSocial IssuesWomen in Crisis
  • Diversity > Identity
  • Health/Personal Development > Identity
  • Justice System & Indigenous People > Abuse of Power, Police Brutality, Deaths in Custody, Wrongful Arrests
  • Law, Legislation & Government Policy > Human Rights Law & Policy
  • Indigenous Peoples: Canada > Kanien'kéhaka (Mohawk)
  • Indigenous Governance General (Modern, Contemporary) > Oka (1990)

Credits


director
Alanis Obomsawin
producer
Alanis Obomsawin
script
Alanis Obomsawin
executive producer
Don Haig
camera
Jean-Claude Labrecque
André-Luc Dupont
Susan Trow
Roger Rochat
Zoe Dirse
Sylvain Julienne
Alanis Obomsawin
animation camera
Raymond Dumas
Pierre Landry
Jacques Avoine
Lynda Pelley
sound
Raymond Marcoux
Ismaël Cordeiro
Hans Oomes
Alanis Obomsawin
editing
Ruby-Marie Dennis
sound editing
Don Ayer
re-recording
Jean-Pierre Joutel
music
Claude Vendette
Francis Grandmont

Awards


  • Second Place - Indian ProducedAmerican Indian Film and Video Competition