Critical Writing Index

New Vistas? Aboriginal animations and digital dreams at the National Film Board of Canada

by Jennifer Gauthier

Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies, 2014, v. 28, no. 4, pp. 465-481

This article is a critical analysis of the "Vistas" series of short films, jointly produced by the National Film Board of Canada and Aboriginal People's Television Network, for the occasion of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. She places the series within the historical context of the NFB's Aboriginal film-making initiatives, in particular Aboriginal animation, in the 1960s and '70s. Ultimately the author argues the "Vistas" shorts are more politically ambivalent than previous Aboriginal film-making at the NFB, and played a role in the commodification of Canadian Aboriginal culture for the 2010 Olympics.

ITEM 2014.037_Gauthier – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

Dancers of the GrassMelanie Jackson

Charley Squash Goes to TownDuke Redbird

Christmas at Moose FactoryAlanis Obomsawin

Animation from Cape DorsetSolomie Pootoogook

Animation from Cape DorsetTimmum Alariaq

Animation from Cape DorsetMathew Joanasie

Animation from Cape DorsetItee Pootoogook Pilaloosie

Carrying FireMarie Burke

Little ThunderNance Ackerman

Little ThunderAlan Syliboy

Red OchreJerry Evans

IgnitionDoug Smarch Jr.

The VisitLisa Jackson

Walk-in-the-ForestDiane Obomsawin