CFUV @ VFF: Stories of the Sierra Madre

Nava’s documentary addresses the familiar alchemy of neo-colonial power: displacement for economy, cultural genocide as recognition, disaster as progress. These themes are all at play, currently, in the Peace River with Site C. However, for a film that strives to exquisitely demonstrate the precious connectivity of indigenous peoples, sacred space and tradition, it is remarkable that no women were portrayed in Stories of the Sierra Madre. How can the stories of the Mother Mountains not have any mothers within it? The short film Pkols, which preceded Nava’s feature documentary, also did not have women profiled. Missing indigenous women- another familiar alchemy.

-Troy Sebastian