Helen Haig-Brown

Directing

Helen Haig-Brown

Helen Haig-Brown is a Tsilhqot'in filmmaker working primarily with indigenous and First Nations themes. Many of these derive from her maternal roots in the Tsilhqot'in First Nation.

Known For

The CaveThe Cave · 2009
The Cave
3.92009
MovieFantasy
A hunter on horseback accidentally discovers a portal to another world in this fantastical true Tsilhqot'in story.
NikamowinNikamowin · 2007
Nikamowin
2007
Movie
Deconstructing and reconstructing Cree narrative, this film experiments with language to create a linguistic soundscape.
My LegacyMy Legacy · 2014
My Legacy
2014
MovieDocumentary
My Legacy follows Helen as she explores the often tenuous relationship between a mother and daughter made more complex by the legacy of residential school.
Edge of the KnifeEdge of the Knife · 2018
Edge of the Knife
6.72018
MovieDramaHorror
Island of Haida Gwaii, northern Canada, 19th century. During a fishing gathering, Adiits'ii commits an unfortunate act. Tormented, he runs away to the wilderness as his mind embraces madness.
Writing the LandWriting the Land · 2007
Writing the Land
2007
MovieDocumentary
In this short documentary, a Musqueam elder rediscovers his Native language and traditions in the city of Vancouver, in the vicinity of which the Musqueam people have lived for thousands of years. Writing the Land captures the ever-changing nature of a modern city - the glass and steel towers cut against the sky, grass, trees and a sudden flash of birds in flight and the enduring power of language to shape perception and create memory.
Su Naa (My Big Brother)Su Naa (My Big Brother) · 2005
Su Naa (My Big Brother)
2005
MovieDocumentary
In a disorienting haze of grief and guilt, a sister tries desperately to come to terms with losing her brother in a tragic car accident.
Retake - Making the World's First Haida-Language Feature FilmRetake - Making the World's First Haida-Language Feature Film · 2018
Retake - Making the World's First Haida-Language Feature Film
2018
MovieDocumentary
Retake follows the journey of co-directors Gwaai Edenshaw (Haida) and Helen Haig-Brown (Tsilhqot'in) as they work to produce The Edge of the Knife, a feature-length film told entirely in the critically-endangered Haida language. The film tells the story of a traditional Haida legend, showcasing the Haida culture in many ways that have never been seen by a broad audience.
Indigenous Plant DivaIndigenous Plant Diva · 2008
Indigenous Plant Diva
2008
MovieDocumentary
Kamala Todd's short film is a lyrical portrait of Cease Wyss, of the Squamish Nation. Wyss is a woman who understands the remarkable healing powers of the plants growing all over downtown Vancouver. Whether it's the secret curl of a fiddlehead, or the gentleness of comfrey, plants carry ageless wisdom with them, communicated through colour, texture, and form. Wyss has been listening to this unspoken language and is now passing this ancient and intimate connection down to her own daughter, Senaqwila.

Filmography

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