Back to Results
Alanis Obomsawin
Abenaki
Languages
Awards
A member of the Abenaki Nation and one of Canada’s most distinguished artists, Alanis Obomsawin has been a trailblazing champion of Indigenous storytelling and cinema over a legendary career that began at the NFB in 1967.
Companion of the Order of Canada and laureate of both the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award and the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts, Ms. Obomsawin has received more than 50 lifetime and career accolades, as well as 13 honorary degrees.
She has directed 65 films to date that have amassed over 50 honours, including 15 awards for her 1993 landmark feature documentary on the 1990 Oka Crisis, Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance.
Official Selection
Feature Films
Festival Year2019
Jordan River Anderson, the Messenger
Director, Producer, Writer
2017
Our People Will Be Healed
Director, Producer, Writer
2016
We Can’t Make the Same Mistake Twice
Director, Producer, Writer
2014
Trick or Treaty?
Director, Producer, Writer
2013
Hi-Ho Mistahey!
Director, Producer, Writer
2012
The People of the Kattawapiskak River
Director, Producer, Writer
Opening Night Screening.
2009
Professor Norman Cornett
Director, Producer, Writer
2008
Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance
Director, Producer, Writer
Accompanied by a special reception for Alanis Obomsawin afterwards.
2006
Waban-Aki: People from Where the Sun Rises
Director, Producer, Writer
Closing Night Screening.
2003
Our Nationhood
Director, Producer, Writer
Closing Night Screening.
2002
Is The Crown At War With Us?
Director, Producer, Writer
Opening Night Screening.
2000
Mother of Many Children
Director, Producer, Writer
1999
Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance
Director, Producer, Writer
Short Films
Festival Year2022
Bill Reid Remembers
Director, Producer, Writer
2021
Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair
Director, Producer, Writer
2012
Christmas at Moose Factory
Director
Opening Night Screening.
2010
When All the Leaves Are Gone
Director, Producer, Writer
Part of Kaleidoscope: Shorts Program III.
2007
Gene Boy Came Home
Director, Producer, Writer
2005
Sigwan
Director, Producer, Writer
Opening Night Screening.
2004
Christmas At Moose Factory
Director
Followed by the Interview, In Conversation with Alanis Obomsawin…
2004
Richard Cardinal: Cry From A Diary of A Métis Child
Director, Producer, Writer
Followed by the Interview, In Conversation with Alanis Obomsawin…
2004
Our Dear Sisters
On-screen participant
Closing Night Screening.
2000
Alanis Obomsawin & Loretta Todd Retrospective
Director, Producer, Writer
1999
Spudwrench - Kahnawake Man
Director, Producer, Writer
Exhibitions
Festival Year2023
The Children Have to Hear Another Story
Artist
Part of the Art Crawl.
2012
Wbomsawinno: Les Estampes De / The Prints of Alanis Obomsawin
Artist
2009
Codetalkers of the Digital Divide (or why we didn't become "roadkill on the information super highway")
Artist
Year-Round Programming
2025
Artist Spotlight Directory Retrospective Streaming | Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance
Director, Producer, Writer
A month-long free online streaming presentation, celebrating the launch of the Artist Spotlight Directory.
2022
Tour Program | Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair
Director, Producer, Writer
2020
Tour Program | Jordan River Anderson, the Messenger
Director, Producer, Writer
2018
Tour Program | Our People Will Be Healed
Director, Producer, Writer
2015
Tour Program | Trick or Treaty?
Director, Producer, Writer
Events
2019
Worn Trails/New Trails: Footsteps
Panelist
2019
MERATA: How Mum Decolonised the Screen Q&A
Panelist
2018
Alanis Obomsawin: In Discussion
Speaker
2014
The Future of Indigenous Social Justice Docs
Speaker
2012
Wbomsawinno: Les Estampes De + The Prints of Alanis Obomsawin
Panelist
2009
Code talkers of the Digital Divide (or why we didn’t become “roadkill on the information superhighway”)
Panelist
2009
In Conversation: The Evolution of Indigenous Filmmaking
Panelist
2009
New Media Curator/Artist Talk and Reception
Attending Artist, Panelist
2008
Special reception after the screenings at the NFB Mediatheque
Guest of Honour
2006
Records in Our Heads: Memory, Media and the Telling of History
Panelist
2004
In Conversation with Alanis Obomsawin…
Interviewee
After Film Screening.
2003
You Always Remember The First: Alanis Obomsawin in Conversation with First-Time Filmmakers
Speaker
2002
NFB Master Class with Alanis Obomsawin: Image Versus Sound - Are We Really Listening?
Presenter
2000
Alanis Obomsawin & Loretta Todd Retrospective
Speaker
Artist talk after film screening.
2000
First Voices: Aboriginal Women Storytellers
Panelist
Institute Participation
2021
Industry Days Speaker | In Conversation with Alanis Obomsawin + Jason Ryle
Speaker
Livestream event.
2013
European Film Market | Richard Cardinal: Cry From A Diary of A Métis Child
Director, Producer, Writer
imagineNative Team
2002
Festival Patron Committee
Member
In recognition of Alanis Obomsawin’s legacy of contributions to the film industry, the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival’s annual Documentary Work Long Format Award has been named in her honour.
Is this your artist page? Contact us to make any updates.
Last updated on May 20, 2025.