A new documentary, Seeds of Hope, telling the story of Elder Gwen Harry (Chésa7) of the Kwakwaka’wakw and a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh descent, is currently in post-production and is set to launch later this year.
Elder Gwen Harry was taken from her family at five years old to St. Michael’s Residential School. Rather than breaking her spirit, the experience fuelled a lifetime of advocacy and achievement. She went on to found Totem Preschool, one of Canada’s first Indigenous early learning centres. As a Squamish Nation Councillor, she helped secure key agreements including the Sea to Sky Highway and Aboriginal Enhancement Agreements, was instrumental in founding Quest University, and received the Order of BC .
“The Gwen Harry story is about adversity and then breakthrough and resilient celebration,” said Lee Jay Bamberry, the documentary’s director. “She started schools and the seeds of hope [her children and grandchildren] are making a mark in the world. It’s a great success story.”
The production team is currently deep in post-production, having recently launched their website. One of the key creative challenges, according to Bamberry, is bringing history alive visually. He plans to animate archival photographs to add motion to the narrative, complementing the already captured interview and drone footage.
“We have to sift through 16 hours of gold to come up with an hour-and-a-half documentary,” Bamberry said. “But for the most part, it’s captured.”
Alongside director Lee Jay Bamberry, Jenn Bamberry served as assistant director. The film was produced by Pekultn Siyam (Chief Dale Harry), hereditary Chief of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, alongside Alfonso Quijada and Laura Guzman. Nate Dickson contributed to cinematography and storytelling, Jordan Rendle to cinematography, and Daryl Bennet to editing and composing.
“Seeds of Hope is offered with gratitude to Gwen Harry and her wonderfully beautiful family, the Squamish Nation, and with the understanding that this story does not end when the credits roll. It continues wherever people are willing to listen,” Bamberry wrote in his director’s statement.
The film has received support from Squamish Nation, Squamish Arts, Woodfibre LNG, the Canucks for Kids Fund, The Driving Force Group of Companies, Kiewit, and CN.
Bamberry is hopeful the documentary will launch this year. You can follow Seeds of Hope on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
