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11 First Peoples, 11 cultures, 11 languages: an Indigenous perspective on the past, present and future

“The time has come to speak out and tell our story, to decolonize history and to celebrate the beauty of our cultures.” In Telling Our Story, the 11 First Peoples in Quebec tell us who they are, in their own way and from their own points of view.
CBC Docs ·
The words "Telling Our Story" are written in a bold white font on top of a painting of a purple and pink sky. The silhouettes of pine trees are on the horizon.
(Terre Innue)

Watch Telling Our Story as part of CBC's special National Day for Truth and Reconciliation programming on September 30:

  • 8 p.m. (9 AT, 9:30 NT) on CBC TV: Episode 1 - Territory 
  • 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT) on CBC TV: Episode 2 - Identity 
  • All four episodes available now on CBC Gem 

For the first time on screen, the 11 First Peoples whose homelands host Quebec, Labrador, New Brunswick and Ontario — the Abenaki, Anishnabe, Atikamekw, Cree of Eeyou Istchee, Innu, Inuit, Mi'gmaq, Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk), Naskapi, Wendat and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) — tell us who they are, in their own way and from their own points of view.

They share their worldview, their connection to the territory, their spirituality, their values, their history going back thousands of years, their wounds, their struggles, their victories and their hopes. Their stories give depth to our great collective narrative, help decolonize history and minds, and honour the Ancestors and Mother Earth. 

Telling Our Story is a major four-part series that celebrates their resistance, resilience and revival.

Episode 1: Territory

To understand who we are, you need to appreciate the special relationship we have with the land, a vast and immense territory that we share amongst Nations. It is an intimate and powerful bond that we want to keep alive. 

Let us tell you the story of the land — the beating heart of our identities, our beliefs and our traditions.

Episode 2: Identity

Our worldview is what defines us as First Peoples. It is shaped by our intimate relationship with the land and with our ancestors, our languages and our traditional knowledge. 

To tell you our story, we need to show you the beauty of our languages and the ingenuity of our people that has been passed on for thousands of years through our oral tradition.

Episode 3: Spirituality

Despite attempts made by the government and the Church to ban our rituals and ceremonies, our spiritualities live on. The plants and animals that feed us are sacred. For millennia, powerful objects and dances have been used to connect to the Creator, animal spirits and everything around us. 

Eleven First Peoples, one circular worldview, connected to all that is alive. 

Episode 4: Rebuilding

Before colonization, the 11 First Peoples had their own systems of governance in which women played a central role. The Indian Act stripped women of their power.

Today, for future generations, women are tackling universal issues including ecological stewardship, discrimination, governance and food sovereignty. This fight is critical. 

Our philosophy is simple: make every political decision with a view to its impact on the next seven generations. This principle guided our ancestors and is why we are still here today to perpetuate it. Now, it will help us confront a global environmental crisis.

Watch Telling Our Story on CBC Gem on Sept. 17.