Skip to main content
The L’il’wata Series

The L’il’wata Series

Released on: 1975
. Duration:8m
Closed Caption Available.
Content Rating:E

In the early 1970s, Alanis Obomsawin made this series of short films featuring personal narratives about the Lil'wat Nation in BC.

Director:
Tags:

Episode Title:Basket

. Duration 8 minutes

Told in the Lil̓wat7úl language and featuring a series of still images, this short documentary follows master Stl'atl'imx (Lilwat) basket maker Mathilda Jim creating a functional work of art.

Episode Title:Farming

. Duration 2 minutes

People of the L'il'wat First Nation share personal narratives about their culture, history, education and the impact of residential schools.

Episode Title:Objects in Our Lives

. Duration 6 minutes

Close-up photographs of baskets, tools and utensils used in the past and still used today by the Stl'atl'imx (Lilwat), part of a multimedia kit entitled L'ilawat.

Episode Title:Puberty - Part 1

. Duration 14 minutes

An intimate portrait of Marie Leo, a Sto:lo woman who was adopted into a Lilwat family as a baby, and a childhood deeply connected to culture, land and family.

Episode Title:Puberty - Part 2

. Duration 18 minutes

Elder Marie Leo recounts her experiences going through puberty, detailing the complex, beautiful journey a young Lilwat person undergoes as they welcome adulthood and increased responsibilities.

Episode Title:Salmon

. Duration 4 minutes

Expert fishers for their entire lives, Stl'atl'imx (Lilwat) Elders Cora and Daniel Wells share their deep knowledge of salmon fishing, cleaning and smoking.

Episode Title:Xusum

. Duration 4 minutes

Accompanied by a song in the Lilwat7ul language, we follow a woman as she makes gwushum, a Stl'atl'imx (Lilwat) dessert and a very special treat.