The faculties of arts at UNB Saint John and Fredericton are pleased to partner with St. Stephen’s University (SSU) to present a free virtual screening of the documentary film Voices from the Barrens: Native People, Blueberries and Sovereignty on Monday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m.
The screening will be followed by a live panel discussion featuring Nancy Ghertner, Donald Soctomah, Brian J. Francis and Brian Altvater.
This event is being hosted via Microsoft Teams and is open to all members of the UNB and SSU communities, as well as the general public. No registration required.
Event access: Join us via Microsoft Teams
About the documentary film:
Directed by Nancy Ghertner, Voices from the Barrens, Native People, Blueberries and Sovereignty, documents the wild blueberry harvest of the Wabanaki People from the USA and Canada. The film focuses on the Passamaquoddy tribe’s challenge to balance blueberry hand raking traditions with the economic realities of the world market, which favor mechanical harvesting. Each August, First People of the Canadian Wabanaki, the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik) tribes, cross the US/Canada border into Maine to take part in the tradition of hand raking blueberries with their Passamaquoddy brothers and sisters. This crossing to Maine’s blueberry barrens isn’t considered “agricultural labor,” but is a part of the traditional harvest from the earth.
Learn more: https://www.voicesfromthebarrens.com
