Incident at Restigouche
Encyclopedia
Incident at Restigouche is a 1984 documentary film by Alanis Obomsawin
, chronicling a series of two raids on the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation (Restigouche) by the Sûreté du Québec
in 1981, as part of the efforts of the Quebec government to impose new restrictions on Native salmon
fishermen.
(NFB), to secure permission. With approval finally granted, she arrived at the reserve with a small film crew shortly after a second raid. Obomsawin was irritated about what she had missed, forced to rely on footage from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
and photographs from L'Aviron, a Campbellton
newspaper. To add insult to injury, when Obomsawin asked the NFB for permission to shoot more interviews, including with then-Minister of Fisheries Lucien Lessard
, who had ordered the raids, the Abenaki filmmaker was informed by NFB management that she was not allowed to interview white people.
Obomsawin disregarded this order and interviewed Lessard anyway, in an exchange that would serve as a key part of the film. When confronted by NFB management about her disobedience, she told them that no one would tell her who to interview and that while white people had interviewed Natives for years, the opposite had never been true. NFB management relented and Obomsawin was free to complete her film with relatively little interference.
, she confronts Lessard with the charge that a movement such as his that favours national self-determination for the Québécois was at the same time suppressing those rights for First Nations
. In particular, she calls Lessard to task for a comment he made to the Listuguj chief, when he said "You cannot ask for sovereignty because to have sovereignty one must have one's own culture, language and land." By the end of the film, Lessard offers a personal apology for any harm his actions may have caused the people of Restigouche.
Obomsawin later said that she respected Lessard for his decision to speak directly and honestly with her, even if she strongly disagreed with his actions:
on the life cycle of salmon is accompanied by a song by Willie Dunn
.
Alanis Obomsawin
Alanis Obomsawin, OC is a Canadian filmmaker of Abenaki descent. Born in New Hampshire, and raised primarily in Quebec, she has produced and directed many National Film Board of Canada documentaries on First Nations culture and history...
, chronicling a series of two raids on the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation (Restigouche) by the Sûreté du Québec
Sûreté du Québec
Sûreté du Québec or SQ is the provincial police force for the Canadian province of Québec...
in 1981, as part of the efforts of the Quebec government to impose new restrictions on Native salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
fishermen.
Production history
Obomsawin had heard about an impending police raid on the news and wanted to head to Restigouche immediately with a film crew. However, it took several weeks of discussions with her producer, the National Film Board of CanadaNational Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
(NFB), to secure permission. With approval finally granted, she arrived at the reserve with a small film crew shortly after a second raid. Obomsawin was irritated about what she had missed, forced to rely on footage from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
and photographs from L'Aviron, a Campbellton
Campbellton, New Brunswick
Campbellton is a Canadian city in Restigouche County, New Brunswick.Situated on the south bank of the Restigouche River opposite Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec, Campbellton was officially incorporated in 1889 and achieved city status in 1958.Forestry and tourism are major industries in the regional...
newspaper. To add insult to injury, when Obomsawin asked the NFB for permission to shoot more interviews, including with then-Minister of Fisheries Lucien Lessard
Lucien Lessard
-Background:He was born on February 22, 1938 in Grandes-Bergeronnes. He has a Master degree from Université Laval and was an educator and a union activist.-Member of the legislature:...
, who had ordered the raids, the Abenaki filmmaker was informed by NFB management that she was not allowed to interview white people.
Obomsawin disregarded this order and interviewed Lessard anyway, in an exchange that would serve as a key part of the film. When confronted by NFB management about her disobedience, she told them that no one would tell her who to interview and that while white people had interviewed Natives for years, the opposite had never been true. NFB management relented and Obomsawin was free to complete her film with relatively little interference.
Interview with Lessard
In Obomsawin's pivotal exchange with Lessard, a member of the sovereignist Parti QuébécoisParti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
, she confronts Lessard with the charge that a movement such as his that favours national self-determination for the Québécois was at the same time suppressing those rights for First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
. In particular, she calls Lessard to task for a comment he made to the Listuguj chief, when he said "You cannot ask for sovereignty because to have sovereignty one must have one's own culture, language and land." By the end of the film, Lessard offers a personal apology for any harm his actions may have caused the people of Restigouche.
Obomsawin later said that she respected Lessard for his decision to speak directly and honestly with her, even if she strongly disagreed with his actions:
Music
In addition to documentary material and interviews, the film also includes a musical segment in which found filmFound film
Found Film is the most common name for the still film or movie footage found exposed but undeveloped; it is also often referred as Undeveloped Film, or Forgotten Film. The well known example of Found Film is the one found in 1930 at the shore of arctic island Kvitøya; the film had recoverable...
on the life cycle of salmon is accompanied by a song by Willie Dunn
Willie Dunn
Willie Dunn is a Canadian filmmaker, folk musician, playwright and politician. Born in Quebec, he is of mixed Mi'kmaq and Cornish/Irish background. Dunn often highlights aboriginal issues in his work....
.