The Salmon’s Call, a feature documentary by Joy Haskell on the spiritual and cultural relationship between wild salmon and indigenous people, will make its debut at the 2024 Red Nation International Film Festival in Los Angeles on Friday, November 15th.
The Salmon’s Call is a documentary that explores the intricate spiritual and cultural relationship between wild salmon and Indigenous people that has lasted centuries. It is told through an Indigenous lens and gives a unique voice to a vital symbol of renewal, transformation, and resilience. The film takes viewers on a breathtaking journey with the Sockeye salmon from the West Coast waters of British Columbia, traversing the Fraser River, through the Chilcotin and the Stuart River (Nak’alkoh) and Stuart Lake (Nak’albun) situated in Northern British Columbia. Along this journey, we meet various members of the community from elders to youths as they share their rich connection to the salmon.
Discover the vibrant culture of passing down traditional fishing practices, learn about the salmon cycle, the unique ways of catching and preserving salmon, and how Indigenous artists take inspiration from salmon to create beautiful artwork. The documentary sheds light on the hidden dangers of fish farms on the West Coast, and how the disruption in the natural cycle of the salmon has severely affected the ecosystem’s health. As the documentary concludes, the protection of wild salmon is now looking ahead to the next generation of youth to carry on the call. The Salmon’s Call aims to bring insight into Indigenous culture and how important salmon are, to inspire individuals, communities, and policymakers to prioritize the conservation of wild salmon.
“It was important for me to tell this story because the effects of fish farming and reduction of wild salmon is a problem. It affects not just surrounding communities but where the wild salmon travel. This was a very personal journey for me and I’m a private person. However, in order for me to tell this story I had to open up and even brought a camera crew to my Rez where they met some of my family and friends,” says Haskell.
Joy Haskell is an Indigenous filmmaker and founder of Firediva Productions, a film production company located in Vancouver, BC that is committed to bringing Indigenous stories to the world. She grew up in Northern British Columbia and spent a lot of time on Tache Reservation where her family resides. She was taught at a young age how to set net to catch fish and prepare them in the smoke house for drying or canning them for winter. This was passed down from her Aunties and an important part of Indigenous preservation of culture. Her love for salmon and the rapid decline is what ignited her passion to tell their story.
The Salmon’s Call is directed and produced by Joy Haskell. Producers are Andrew Williamson (The Magnitude of All Things) and Henrik Meyer (Everything’s Gone Green), Nicolas Teichrob (Stand) and Rachel Chen are the Directors of Photography and the film was edited by Jessica Dymond. The film features actress, gamer, content creator Shauna Baker (of Stellat’en First Nation), Dorothy Cucw-la7 Christian, PhD (of the Secwepemc and Syilx Nations), artist Damian John (of Tl’azt’en Nation) and more.
The festival marks the film’s debut for audiences, and it will continue its festival circuit with additional screenings to be announced, along with a broadcast premiere on Knowledge Network
Watch the trailer for The Salmon’s Call