Episode 596: In The Seats With...Kim O'Bomswain and 'Telling Our Story'

Getting to have a full understanding of those who lived here before us is just so very vital....On this very special episode we dive into a vital docu-series which is now on CBC Gem.  It's time for 'Telling Our Story'.From page one of the history books, the notion that the First Nations were “discovered.” is a little ridiculous.  In a sardonic look back, we’re told that the Europeans were the ones who were discovered, starving on their boats, with Jacques Cartier losing 11 men to scurvy before being given a vitamin-laden conifer tea by Iroquois Chief Donnacona. With this starting point, turning history right-side up, Telling Our Story connects beautiful natural scenery with tales and traditions and eloquent and charismatic protagonists from 11 First Peoples – 11 cultures speaking 11 different languages – who inhabited what’s now Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. They are: Abenaki, Anishinaabe, Atikamekw, Cree of Eeyou Istchee, Innu, Inuit, Kanien'kehá:ka, Mi'kmaq, Naskapi, Huron-Wendat and Wolastoqiyik.  Their stories are, in turn, heart-warming, heartbreaking, hopeful and absolutely vital..After it's premiere at TIFF we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Kim O'Bomswain about the origins of the project, the multi-platform nature of it all, being able to experience mass audience reactions at a festival like TIFF and so very much more.Telling Our Story is streaming on CBC Gem now.