Yintah, meaning “land,” is an exceptional documentary film following over 12 years of Wet’suwet’en resistance to industrial projects, including pipelines, to which they did not consent.
The Coastal GasLink pipeline project, backed by all levels of Canadian governments and given nearly unlimited military-style support from the RCMP, is one focal point in the story.
However, at its core, the film really tells the story of the land, told through two women at the heart of Wet’suwet’en efforts to protect it: Freda Huson and Molly Wickham.
As someone who has read and watched a lot about this, and even written about it, this film hits on a personal and emotional level that no compilation of articles and short video clips can.
Co-directors and producers Michael Toledano (who grew up in Toronto), Jennifer Wickham and Brenda Mitchell (who are both Wet’suwet’en) made the documentary following protocols of Wet’suwet’en law. The result is a poignant, powerful film unlike almost anything else you’ll see.
Yintah is not to be missed.
There are only two screenings during the Hot Docs Festival, so we hope more showings get announced. Yintah is also slated to air on CBC in the fall.
This article appeared in the 2024 May/June issue.
