WANUSKEWIN, Sask. — Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Hossein Martin Fazeli believes documentary cinema can do more than tell stories; it can challenge public narratives, expose difficult realities and inspire social change. That is why he sees his latest work, I Am Gitxsan, as more than a documentary about the Indigenous community of the Gitxsan First Nations; it presents a powerful story about confronting one of the difficult chapters of Canada’s history.
For Fazeli, amplifying Indigenous voices and inspiring audiences to think differently about truth, reconciliation and the resilience of communities is important in bringing change and inspiring action, and learning about their experiences under colonial rule and the residential school system.
Fazeli’s award-winning documentary screened Sept. 30, at Wanuskewin Heritage Park’s Greg Yuel Gallery as part of the commemoration of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. He later interacted with attendees after the film screening. He said documentaries can bring audiences face to face with issues they might otherwise never experience, allowing personal stories to become part of a much larger conversation about society and the power of connecting audiences with real people and experiences.
“Documentary cinema has a unique power to talk about society. [It’s] the most powerful genre out there to talk about society, to talk about social change. We live in stories,” said Fazeli, who added that society is shaped by the narratives people tell about themselves.
Fazeli said turning a story rooted in one community into something that resonates far beyond its original setting requires it to speak to audiences everywhere through fundamentally human experiences. He said filmmakers often begin with a specific nation, place or individual but hope the resulting story can travel and become universal. He mentioned documentaries such as Blackfish and No Fire Zone as examples of how films can shape public debate and pressure institutions.
He added, however, that influence comes with a responsibility to tell stories honestly. In I Am Gitxsan, he deliberately avoided presenting an idealized portrayal of the community, instead including difficult subjects such as substance abuse, alcoholism and the legacy of residential schools.
“When you talk about human experiences, people, you know, relate to. I didn’t want to sugarcoat anything. Sitting down and talking to the survivors and hearing their stories was quite an emotional experience. If you employ that power right, in the right way, then the sky is the limit,” Fazeli said.
Fazeli said the filmmaking process also changed his understanding of the history he was documenting. Before making the film, he and his production team knew the basic facts about residential schools, but speaking directly with survivors made the history much more immediate and emotional.
He also believed in the importance of ethical storytelling, particularly when dealing with trauma and deeply personal experiences. He said participants should control their stories and advised filmmakers to avoid manipulating them into revealing painful experiences to make the film more dramatic. Ultimately, Fazeli said the documentary left him with a deeper appreciation for the resilience of the people whose stories he encountered. He said the experience reinforced his belief that individuals and communities can rise above circumstances without allowing those circumstances to define them.
“People like to tell their stories to the camera. That’s the magic of the camera. We can rise above them. We don’t have to let circumstances define us. We all changed,” said Fazeli, who described how those experiences strengthened the convictions of some of the film’s participants.
Hearing those voices profoundly affected Fazeli and his production team. Before making the documentary, he said they knew the basic facts about the residential school system but had not fully understood its tragedy until sitting down with survivors. Some interviews were emotionally overwhelming, and Fazeli said the team deliberately left some of the darkest material out of the finished film. The gravity of the stories they heard from survivors even caused one crew member to quit midway through production.
“There is no difference between an Indigenous community, like the Gitxsan, and the larger society in Canada. We have so many different voices. We have so many different opinions. I think it’s very important to play things ethically,” he said.
Fazeli said the power of I Am Gitxsan rests with its people, and that some deeply personal stories emerged because participants chose to share them. While documentaries may often focus on a place and people, their stories can become universal when they connect with audiences. He said that potential comes with a responsibility to be honest. With I Am Gitxsan, he deliberately avoided presenting an idealized picture of the community, instead addressing difficult realities including substance abuse, alcoholism and the legacy of residential schools.
Ultimately, Fazeli says the experience reinforced his belief in Indigenous peoples’ resilience and their ability to rise above circumstances that might otherwise define their lives. He also admired individuals who could have pursued more lucrative careers elsewhere but instead chose to remain in their communities and work for others.
