By Christine Welsh
FINDING DAWN puts a human face on a tragedy that has received precious little attention ¨C and one which is surprisingly similar to the situation in Ciudad Juarez, on the other side of the U.S. border. Dawn Crey, Ramona Wilson and Daleen Kay Bosse are just three of the estimated 500 Aboriginal women who have gone missing or been murdered in Canada over the past 30 years. Acclaimed Metis filmmaker Christine Welsh embarks on an epic journey to shed light on these murders and disappearances that remain unresolved to this day. She begins at Vancouver's skid row where more than 60 poor women disappeared and travels to the "Highway of Tears" in northern British Columbia where more than two dozen women (all but one Native) have vanished.
This engrossing film illustrates the deep historical, social and economic factors that contribute to the epidemic of violence against Aboriginal women. It highlights the disturbing, world-wide culture of impunity that allows murders of women ¨C especially those who are poor, indigenous, or sex workers ¨C to go unsolved and unpunished. Recommended viewing for courses in Native and Indigenous studies, women's studies, sociology, psychology and courses that cover issues of violence against women.
Reviews
~ "A compelling documentary¡Explores the truth about violence against Native women." - Barbara Bourrier-LaCroix, Canadian Women's Health Network
~ "Riveting viewing¡ [from] an accomplished filmmaker." - The Toronto Star
~ "Bring[s] into view the many hundreds of victims too long hidden by our culture's attitudes toward aboriginal women. While this is a deeply distressing film¡it is full of hope and strength." - Stephen Berg, The Edmonton Journal
~ "Going way beyond media stereotypes of native women as victims, it presents the real stories of native women who are actively engaged in making changes on and off reserve." - Kevin Griffin, The Vancouver Sun
Notes
~ Seattle Human Rights Film Festival
~ American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco
~ ImagineNative Film and Media Arts Festival
~ Aboriginal Film and Video Festival
~ World Community Film Festival, Vancouver
Award
~ Amnesty Int'l FF Vancouver, Gold Audience Award
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