I Am Gitxsan follows Phoenix Apperloo, a recent high school graduate reconnecting with his Indigenous heritage in Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada. Inspired by encounters with residential school survivors, he writes a heartfelt letter to Prime Minister Trudeau about the injustices faced by his people. The documentary highlights the impact of colonialism on the Gitxsan community, featuring insights from experts like Dr Gabor Maté and showcasing their resilience through protests and legal actions.

Director's Statement

On the surface, I Am Gitxsan is a film on the Gitxsan Nation's struggle for justice and dignity. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Gitxsan laxyip (territories), the film tells the story of the Gitxsan Nation's hard fight against neo-colonialism, with an emphasis on its hidden cultural treasures and its messages of oneness and peaceful co-existence for humanity. Beneath the surface, however, I Am Gitxsan is more than just a documentary on an Indigenous nation; it is a hard-hitting moral parable about the power of good to overcome evil, a young man’s homecoming to his land, culture and identity.

Category: Feature Doc.

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