Directed by Anthony J. Perzel

Logline: A First Nation's courageous journey of change for their children and their children's children.

Synopsis: Lutsel K'e is an isolated Denesoline community of 300, on Great Slave Lake, NWT. In 1989 due to increasing alcohol related deaths a Band Council Resolution forced elected officials with substance misuse issues to enter treatment or resign. Eight councilors, the band manager, and two wives of councilors sought treatment. The result of their decision was documented over the succeeding twenty-five years. Narrated by Tantoo Cardinal.

Distribution Contact: WFG

More Details

RUNTIME: 52 Minutes
GENRE: Documentary
PRODUCTION FORMAT: HD, SD
LANGUAGE: English
LOCATION: Northwest Territories
KEYWORDS: Alcohol, Addiction, Healing, Treatment, Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Lutselke, Dene, Denesoline People, Chipweyan, Chief And Council, Great Slave Lake, Thaidene Nene, Wilderness, First Nations, Ceremony

Director's Statement: Escalating deaths due to alcohol misuse and the breakdown of community values, brought the Chief and Council to a turning point. With advice from their elders the leadership collectively and willfully passed a community bylaw and entered treatment.

On returning to their community they organized the first of an annual “cultural and spiritual” pilgrimage to the “Old Lady that Sits in the Falls”, and a reconnection with the land. Their ancestors believed that the “Old Lady”, a 150-foot waterfall had healing properties. The pilgrimage continues to this day.