Hunters and Bombers

Jun 16

Notes from Hugh

In 1987, I was asked if there was any way I could give support to the Innu, the First Nation of the southern Labrador coast and interior, in their campaign against the low-level flying that was impacting their lands and way of life. This campaign, for the most part led by Inuu women, had brought a great deal of concerned attention to the multi-national, NATO base at Goose Bay, adjacent to Innu homes and lands, where the low-level flight training and exercises were based. I suggested that we make a film to tell the story of the campaign, and to show the encounter in the hands around Goose Bay, in the heart of Innu territories, between the two cultures - hunting peoples on the one hand, the international military on the other - the hunters and the bombers. Channel 4 agreed right away to commission the film.

Soon after beginning work in Labrador, we discovered that the National Film Board of Canada had been developing a film with the Innu. Directed by Nigel Markham, and originally focused on Innu youth, this film was beginning to cover much the same ground as ours. So we agreed to fuse the productions, with Nigel and myself as co-directors. In fact, Nigel was above all a very skilful cameraman, and was happy for me to take on the director’s role when we were filming together. In the edit, working with the wonderfully skilful editor Hanele Hahn, we did our best to achieve equality of input.

It was not always easy, but the film got made - and much benefited I am sure, from the shared input and co-production. Its heart lies in the Innu confrontation with the military, the police, prison… as well as their conviction that happiness, for them, depends on being able to spend much of their time on their land, in their heritage, language and way of being in the world. And on the recognition by Canada, of their inalienable rights to that land, that world that is theirs.

Synopsis

The hunters are the Innu people and the bombers are the air forces of several NATO countries, which conduct low-level flights over the Innu's hunting terrain. The impact of the jets is hotly debated by peace groups, Indigenous people, environmentalists and the military. But what is often overlooked are the many complex changes underway in Innu society, as social and technological changes confront a traditional hunting culture.

Where to find this film:

NFB site: DVD purchase and CAMPUS educational streaming

Copyright Year: 1990

Running Time: 53m 25s

Producer

National Film Board of Canada

Catalogue Number

NFB522635

Producers

Alan Hayling, Rex Tasker, Germaine Ying Gee Wong

Directors

Hugh Brody, Nigel Markham