Bones of Crows to be shown in Vernon
Ayasew Ooskana Pictures has announced that Bones of Crows, the feature film written and directed by award-winning Métis/Dene filmmaker Marie Clements has added new dates and locations to its National Indigenous community screening tour.
The free community screenings start in Kamloops on December 7th and continue in Williams Lake, Merritt, Penticton, Vernon (Dec. 11, see below for details), and Oliver. These communities will be some of the first people to see the film, ahead of its theatrical release in 2023.
Bones of Crows is a multi-generational epic story of resilience told through the eyes of Cree Matriarch Aline Spears (played throughout her life by Summer Testawich; Secwépemc actor Grace Dove and Carla Rae).
Removed from their family home and forced into Canada’s residential school system, young musical prodigy Aline and her siblings are plunged into a struggle for survival. Over the next hundred years, Aline and her descendants fight against systemic starvation, racism and sexual abuse—and to build a more just future.
The dramatic feature film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and has been received with acclaim from audiences around the world at film festivals.
Bones of Crows has a rich connection with the community of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, with extensive filming in the community where many residents worked on both the production crew and as extras. Elders were present on set to support every day and filming took place in the territory and in the site of the former residential school.
Bones of Crows has organized these screenings to give thanks to the communities who participated in the film, Chief and Council for their support and to honour survivors and all affected by the school. Additionally, Dene/Metis Writer/Director/Producer Marie Clements will be in attendance at the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops) screening and local actors Summer Testawich, Tyler Peters, Ethan Evans, and Teya Gabriel will be in attendance at selects screenings throughout this leg of the tour.
Bones of Crows was filmed on the traditional territories of the Esquimalt Nation, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Lekwungen Songhees Nation, Musqueam Nation, Okanagan Nation, Scia’new First Nation (Beecher Bay), Squamish Nation, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, Tla’amin Nation, Tsartlip Nation (North Saanich), Tseycum First Nation (Saanich), Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
The Bones of Crows community tour was made possible through the generous support of Rogers, I Love First Peoples, Central Mountain Air and Pacific Coastal Airlines.
Screening Information:
December 7th – Kamloops
12.30 PM Thompson River University
7.00 PM The Rex Hall
December 8th – Williams Lake
7.00 PM – Paradise Cinemas
December 9th – Merritt
12.45 PM – Merritt Secondary School
7.00 PM – Merritt Secondary School
December 10th – Penticton
7.00 PM – Cleland Community Theatre
December 11th – Vernon
7.00 PM – Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
December 12th – Oliver
9.30 AM – Oliver Theatre for Oliver-Keremeos-Osoyoos grade 10-12’s