Fort York and Planet IndigenUS Present: CBC's 8th Fire Series

8TH FIRE is a provocative, high-energy journey through Aboriginal history showing why we need to fix Canada's 500 year-old relationship with Indigenous peoples; a relationship mired in colonialism, conflict and denial. With an energetic pace and stunning HD landscapes, 8TH FIRE propels you past prejudice, stereotypes and misunderstandings, to encounters with an impressive new generation of Aboriginal Canadians who are reclaiming both their culture and their confidence. This remarkable four-part HD series is an encounter with fascinating, complex people - as diverse as Canada itself.

Each night a guest speaker involved with the creation of the 8th Fire series will introduce the film with a short talk and discussion.

**FREE**

-- SCHEDULE --

Monday, August 13:
EPISODE 1: Indigenous in the City
More than half of Canada's Aboriginal population now lives in cities. They sometimes call themselves "Concrete Indians" and they are challenging stereotypes. Meet the rich kaleidoscope of Aboriginal people who are fast joining the country's urban middle class and bringing their culture with them
GUEST SPEAKER: Connie Walker, Producer & Reporter, 8th Fire Series

Tuesday, August 14:
EPISODE 2: It's Time!
It's Time! challenges Canadians with this reality: if we don't improve our relationship with Aboriginal people, we will cripple our economy. Memorable people and stories from across the country illustrate why there's an economic, demographic and moral imperative to fix Canada's troubled 500-year relationship with Aboriginals
GUEST SPEAKER: Victoria Freeman, post-doctoral fellow at OISE/UofT AND author of Distant Relations: How My Ancestors Colonized North America (M&S, 2000)

Wednesday, August 15:
EPISODE 3: Whose Land Is It Anyway?
There's no getting around it. Land is the biggest sticking point in the relationship between Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the "settler" population. Who owns it, benefits from it, gets to say when, if and how it gets developed? A look at the role that land plays in the conflicted relationship with Aboriginal peoples and the rest of Canada.
GUEST SPEAKER: Lee Maracle, Celebrated First Nations' author, poet, educator, storyteller and performing artist.

Thursday, August 16:
EPISODE 4: At the Crossroads
How the Aboriginal community's feisty and self-confident youth; the "Seventh Generation" are taking new pride in their heritage and pointing the way forward to a new relationship. A fascinating range of artists, activists and business people take us through ways to shed the colonial past, build new pathways in education and economic development. This is all in pursuit of a new relationship to replace 500 years of conflict and injustices.
GUEST SPEAKER: Nadya Kwandibens. Nadya Kwandibens is Anishinaabe and French from the Northwest Angle #37 First Nation in Ontario. She is based in Toronto and much of her work explores the identity of urban Aboriginal people.