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SGaawaay K’uuna (Edge of The Knife)

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Languages:
Haida
English
French

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Stream Now Public Performance

 Haida Gwaii, 1800’s. At a seasonal fishing camp two families endure conflict between the nobleman Adiits’ii and his best friend Kwa. After Adiits’ii causes the accidental death of Kwa’s son, he flees into the rainforest, descending into madness and transforming into Gaagiixid – “the Wildman.” When the families return in the spring, they discover Adiits’ii has survived the winter. Can he be rescued and returned to his humanity? Meanwhile, Kwa wrestles with his deepest desire – revenge.

Directors: Hluugitgaa Gwaai Edenshaw, Jaada Yahlangnaay Helen Haig-Brown
Screenplay: Jalaan Edenshaw, Gwaai Edenshaw, Graham Richard, Leonie Sandercock
Producers: Jonathan Frantz, Stephen Grosse
Director of Photography: Jonathan Frantz
Production Design: Sandy Cochrane
Art Direction: Hluugitgaa Gwaai Edenshaw
Costume Design: Athena Theny
Editing: Sarah Hedar
Music: Kinnie Starr
Executive Producer: Zacharias Kunuk

STARRING
Tyler York as Adiits’ii
William Russ as Kwa
Adeana Young as Hlaaya

Research and Film Process

Behind the Scenes

Articles, Essays, Reviews

Film Development

Language

    • 14m 48s

      K'uyaang (Benjamin Young)

      uploaded by: clairelittoncohn

      channel: Language

      Interview with Dana Moraes and Graham Richard

      'I'm Alaskan Haida.'

      'I have kind of an extensive language background. I've been either learning, documenting and teaching language for a little over a decade.'

      'I'm a functional speaker.'

      … Read more

      uploaded date: 15-06-2018

    • 20m 15s

      Jaahljuu (Graham Richard)

      uploaded by: clairelittoncohn

      channel: Language

      Interview with Dana Moraes and Graham Richard

      'This particular script came to us very gradually. Very organically.'

      'The script is based, or inspired by, traditional Haida stories.'

      'Our story is definitely fiction but it's based in reality.'

      'We went over and over and over that script so many times.'

      'We consulted a lot.'

      … Read more

      uploaded date: 14-06-2018

    • 7m 58s

      G_uud Yuwans (Willie Russ)

      uploaded by: clairelittoncohn

      channel: Language

      Interview with Dana Moraes and Graham Richard

      ‘I was born and raised in Skidegate’

      ‘I actually submitted a 50-pages story that I’ve written a long time ago. And that was too long and they wanted me to write something else but I didn’t get a chance to write anything else.’

      … Read more

      uploaded date: 12-06-2018

    • 5m 21s

      Guustlaas (Trey Rorick)

      uploaded by: clairelittoncohn

      channel: Language

      Interview with Dana Moraes and Graham Richard

      "I thought it would be a really good experience learning how to speak X̱aaydaa Kil [Haida] and I thought it would be fun"

      "It's so culturally involved and an inspiration for other Nations to do it."

      "I think most people here would probably watch it by private showings."

      … Read more

      uploaded date: 07-06-2018

    • 6m 59s

      Oot Iiwaans (Leo Gagnon)

      uploaded by: clairelittoncohn

      channel: Language

      Interview with Dana Moraes and Graham Richard

      "The language was easy; it was remembering that was the hard part"

      "I'm a carver and I make carving tools for local carvers"

      "I do a lot of weaving, a lot of hunting and fishing"

      "This [knife] if similar to what was used on the film. Made by me."

      … Read more

      uploaded date: 07-06-2018

    • 11m 32s

      SG_aan Kwah Agang (James McGuire)

      uploaded by: clairelittoncohn

      channel: Language

      Interview with Dana Moraes and Graham Richard

      “Of course I’m interested in any kind of thing that pushes Haida culture into the new centuries.”

      “[Atanarjuat] portraits real authentic story from the Nations it was from. It kind of gives you an idea about of how you can represent your culture on the screen.”

      … Read more

      uploaded date: 07-06-2018

    • 7m 42s

      Sgaamsgid (Harold Williams)

      uploaded by: clairelittoncohn

      channel: Language

      Interview with Dana Moraes and Graham Richard

      'My english name is Harold Williams. My Haida name Sgaamsgid means big eyes in Haida.'

      'We are learning all the Haida words for the movie.'

      'My kids were so happy I was going in the movies. I didn't want to disappoint them.'

      … Read more

      uploaded date: 07-06-2018

    • 7m 55s

      G_andll K'amalang (Marika Gladstone)

      uploaded by: clairelittoncohn

      channel: Language

      Interview with Dana Moraes and Graham Richard

      'My mom told me that there was something going on. She said that if I wanted I could try to audition.'

      'I just really like that kind of thing. To act and stuff like that.' 'I was raven child. I don't know how to describe myself.'

      … Read more

      uploaded date: 07-06-2018

    • 11m 45s

      Nunthclioff (Russel Davis)

      uploaded by: clairelittoncohn

      channel: Language

      Interview with Dana Moraes and Graham

      'My white man name is Russel. My Haida name is Nunthclioff meaning long, lost one found. It was given to me by my aunty after I return home from residential school. The name means long lost, one found.'

      … Read more

      uploaded date: 07-06-2018

Elders' Knowledge

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