Welcome to the Festival

Greetings from the Musqueam Indian Band

ʔa: si:y̓ém̓ nə siyéy̓ə

Friends and Relatives:

ʔəm̓i ce:p kʷətxʷiləm ʔi ʔə tə n̓a šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaʔɬ təməxʷ, tə šxʷʔam̓əts tə shən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓qən

Welcome to the ancestral territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓speaking Musqueam people ʔiʔ ƛ̓əw tə šxʷʔaləqʷaʔ ct tə sqʷχʷaməx ʔiʔ tə səl̕ilwətaʔɬ məsteyəxʷ

along with our relatives, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh.

Musqueam has used storytelling as a way to share our teachings for thousands of years—it is an intrinsic part of who we are as Indigenous people. We are also innovators, continually adapting and utilizing new technologies to build upon ancestral knowledge that has sustained us for millennia.

Through lm and other media, Indigenous peoples are nding new ways to share our stories, experiences, struggles, and successes. Film provides an essential platform to amplify Indigenous voices—voices that have been silenced for far too long—and helps to ensure that new generations of Indigenous lmmakers will be inspired to continue creatively telling these important stories.

Musqueam acknowledges that the Vancouver International Film Festival works hard to bring diverse local, national, and international stories to our beautiful territory, while also featuring many Indigenous lms during the festival and all year round.

We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with VIFF and inspiring new Musqueam lmmakers.

Chief Wayne Sparrow (yəχʷyaχʷələq)

Greetings from the Squamish Nation

Ta newyáp Síiy̓am̓ Ta newyáp síiyay̓

To all our Friends, to all our Respected Leaders.

Stl’i7 chet wa kw’enmantúmiyap kwis na tl’iḵ I tti na7 ta temíxwcht

We want to thank you all and welcome you all to our land. Nilh ta s7ulh temíxw tta Sḵwx̱wú7meshulh Úxwmixw iy tta Xwmets’kwiy̓emulh Úxwmixw iy tta Selílwetulh Úxwumixw

This is the land of our Squamish People, and the Musqueam People, and Tsleil-Waututh People.

For many generations, Squamish People have created a culture of oral literature to teach our history, values, and advice to the next generation. Our storytelling traditions are how we inspire ourselves and our children to be a good person, to treat family, land, and water with respect, and work together as a people. We celebrate all storytelling traditions, including new ways of telling stories through lm and cinema. Squamish Nation recognizes the Vancouver International Film Festival’s work to bring diverse local, national, and international stories to our beautiful territory, while also featuring Indigenous lms during the festival and all year round. Congratulations, VIFF, on your 41st festival!

Ann Whonnock Spokesperson & Councilor

Greetings from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation

ʔo: si:y̓ém̓ nə siyéy̓ə,

Friends and Relatives, ʔəm̓i ce:p kʷətxʷiləm ʔə tə n̓a səlilwətaɬ təməxʷ, ʔiʔ ƛ̓əw tə šxʷʔaləqʷaʔ ct tə sqʷx̌ʷaməx ʔiʔ tə xʷməθkʷəy̓əm məsteyəxʷ.

Welcome to the territory of the Tsleil-Waututh people, along with our relatives Squamish and Musqueam.

Congratulations to the Vancouver International Film Festival on the launch of its 41st season. Storytelling is at the heart of VIFF and it is also at the heart of our Tsleil-Waututh community. It is through stories that we connect with one another, and preserve our culture and traditions for future generations. Focusing on our next generation is one of the main priorities for our Nation. Since our initial screening with VIFF of Tsleil-Waututh’s documentary lm When the Tide Goes Out in 2019, we continue to build and strengthen our partnership. Thank you to VIFF for the work they are doing with the youth and members of our community. VIFF works closely with us to provide access to movies and documentaries during the festival and year-round, which contributes to teaching our next generation about the importance of stories. Congratulations on launching another meaningful season of this outstanding festival.

Chief Jen Thomas