Who Were the Ones?

'Who were the ones who bid you welcome and took you by the hand, inviting you here by our campfires, as brothers we might stand?' Bitter memories of the past, of trust repaid by treachery, and of friendship debased by exploitation are expressed in this song-film made by young Indigenous filmmakers at the NFB. Written by Willie Dunn, sung by Bob Charlie, and dramatically illustrated in colour artwork by John Fadden, the film shows the Indigenous view of North American history after the arrival of European colonists. Wilie Dunn's song is named: "Onece Upon a Covenant Chain".