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CM . . . .
Volume VII Number 12 . . . . February 16, 2001
This video, which was directed by Six Nations director, Gary Farmer, is a tribute to and a history
of the role that corn has played in several indigenous cultures. Although corn was actually
cultivated from its wild state by North American natives, over time it has been imbued by many
aboriginal groups with a spiritual dimension representing the cycle of life. Farmer's documentary
explores this dimension in a number of geographical areas across North America and then goes on
to explore the political and global realities of growing corn today and the implications for the
natives who do so. This exploration is done through music, interviews and subtitled footage.
Although the pace was slow and the presentation was uneven, the young Blackfoot students who
viewed the video with the reviewer became quite engrossed in the topic and commented that they
felt it very important that the celebrations linked to the corn harvest and the heritage of the corn
"seed" were important to maintain over time. They also observed that, in their own culture, the
buffalo was their corn, and that, had it not been annihilated, it would be as revered as corn is in
other aboriginal cultures. They were very cognizant of the spiritual relationship that exists
between the corn and people.
The Gift is recommended for high school and adult audiences. Its thoughtful approach and pace
would likely be unwelcome in a less mature audience.
Recommended.
Anne Letain is a teacher-librarian and school library consultant in Southern Alberta.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association.
Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice
is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without
permission.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - February 16, 2001.
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