Review: Memory and activism are at the core of eco-minded doc Ceremony

Director Banchi Hanuse's powerful documentary Ceremony tells a story that, sadly, feels all too familiar. It centers on the plight of the Nuxalk people, an Indigenous tribe in present-day British Columbia who have a long history of being mistreated by various forces: surveyors/colonizers who stole their land, the intentional introduction of smallpox in the 19th century, the modern government that still lays claim to so much of the ancestral land. Like so many Indigenous groups around the world, the Nuxalk have to fight for everything they have, even the things that should (and do) rightfully belong to them.

Ceremony is, first and foremost, an act of memory. It seeks to celebrate the Nuxalk people, their way of life, their history, their perseverance. It assembles so much astonishing archival footage, audio, photographs, that let us see the people who came before. In some of the lined faces of the elderly members of the tribe, you can see so much life, so much history, so much power. And though the smallpox epidemic reduced their population from thousands in the Bella Coola Valley to hundreds, the community has remained strong, keeping their traditions and ceremonies alive -- ceremonies that were, at one time, outlawed by the Canadian government.

The film weaves a tapestry of voices to tell this story, allowing various figures in the community to talk about their work, their hopes, their fight. Serving as a sort of over-arching narrator is a radio show, aptly titled Nuxalk Radio, which delivers news and gives a platform for other members of the community (and subjects in the film) to share their latest thoughts and findings with a larger audience. We see scenes of various people listening to the radio show, and often pop into the studio to watch the broadcasts as they happen -- it's a gift to get to be so embedded in the community, to feel like we're living and walking alongside them in their day-to-day lives.

A big part of this film's story is the absence of ooligan (also called sputc) in the valley's river. These small fish were once a pillar of the Nuxalk's life and diet. After winter, the river would fill with the beautiful little fish, and everyone would bring their nets down, catching huge hauls that they would turn into ooligan grease. This grease was a source of renewal and refreshment, with medicinal properties and cooking applications. But now the river is quiet, empty, unsettlingly serene. It ought to be teeming with fish, and have corresponding flocks of seagulls flying overhead. 

There are various theories about why the ooligan have been absent for so many years, chief among them that it's intentional. Just as buffalo were hunted by the government to hobble the tribes who lived on the plains, so the Nuxalk wonder if a similar effort is being put into preventing ooligan from making it to their part of the river. It would be no big surprise. While the Nuxalk cared for and lived in harmony with the land for so many years, once colonizers entered the picture, that balance was upset. Deforestation, road-building, explosives. All the careless destruction of "progress" that is all too common a tale.

Aside from its important message and strong storytelling, Ceremony also deserves praise for how jaw-droppingly gorgeous it is. The Bella Coola Valley is so beautiful, and the film captures it in all its splendor. The towering mountains, dense forests, sprawling wetlands, rocky shores. It's all filmed with such love, and awe. It's land that deserves the attentive stewardship that the Nuxalk long provided, and still do as much as they can (though the government and other outsiders keep snatching up more of the land). There's also some great underwater footage that is quite delightful.

And, as you might have guessed since I'm reviewing this movie, there are also some animated scenes. Maybe four or five total throughout the film, mostly showing a time when the Nuxalk were living in their ideal way, alongside the land, in step with nature without outside interference. Though the animated sequences (done by Jay White) are few and far between, they make a big impact. The watercolor style is really lovely, and the bold lines give it an inkbrush look that is really appealing. It's smartly deployed, and adds another layer of beauty to a film that's full of them.

While much of Ceremony is quite sad (I shed my share of tears throughout), it's also a stirring and inspiring watch. Seeing this community stand strong is affecting. Watching as they fight to reclaim their land, care for it, and keep their traditions alive is a strong rebuke to the ugly history that has been forced upon them. This is one of those documentaries that has me hoping for a follow up film in ten or twenty years, so I can see how the Naxulk are faring, and what further progress they've made. 

Ceremony has a slew of festival appearances coming up, including the Camden International Film Festival, the Atlantic International Film Festival in Halifax, the Calgary International Film Festival, the Edmonton International Film Festival, and the Vancouver International Film Festival.