Film ReviewsTracing Roots: Weaving the TaleNov 13, 2014, Anchorage Press
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Documentaries are a dime a dozen and they span a wide gamut of subjects, not to mention the variability in quality and integrity. Tracing Roots accomplishes in approximately 30 minutes what many full length documentaries fail to do-it delivers a lot of information in a concise, focused and interesting manner. The story unfolds like roots, in multiple directions all at once to make connections between culture and time, the environment and history. There is no one better to undertake the quest of tracing the metaphysical roots of Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi, the Long Ago Person Found, than Delores Churchill, a master Haida weaver known in her home as Ilskyalas. Ellen Frankenstein of Sitka directed and produced Tracing Roots together with Churchill. This is of distinct importance because although Churchill is the subject of the documentary, she is also one of its architects. It is her weaving, the art of it and the intellectual quest she lays before viewers that gives the film its humble humanity.
The story begins over 300 hundreds of years ago when Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi was traveling across a glacier in modern day British Columbia and died there. His remains, found in 1999, were well preserved by the ice, his body and belongings gave scientists clues about his route and his genetic roots. Among his things was a spruce hat. Churchill describes the occurrence of the archeologists' approach to the site where the Long Ago Person Found was, as the helicopter approached. "The wind from the blades stirred up the area around where the body was and the first thing they saw was the hat flew in the air." As the retreating glacier willed the ancient spruce root hat, the connection with Churchill and her culture was immediate. The first thing she thought to herself was: "I want to see that hat. I want to be able to teach people how that hat was made."
Delores Churchill has a curious and agile mind. Tracing Roots follows her quest to trace the origin and significance of the hat. Her curiosity stems from her vocation as a weaver and her awareness of culture and her place in history. Frankenstein provides viewers with intimate access to Churchill's way of life. She walks alongside Churchill as a proxy for the viewer, through delightful conversations and insight into the art of weaving. Viewers see the personal and familial ties that build history and strengthen cultures. Churchill's journey to see the hat provides an opportunity for other documentary participants who give insight about Churchill and Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi.
In Tracing Roots there is scene focused on a DNA investigation that sparked Delores' journey. It is helpful to clarify that there have been several relevant mitochondrial DNA test studies conducted in Alaska and Canada.
Churchill was intrigued by DNA research on ancient remains found in a cave on Prince of Wales Island. The results from that study of Shuká Kaa, also known as On Your Knees Cave, organized by Sealaska Heritage Institute conducted by Dr. Brian Kemp, who appears in the film, indicated that Delores had no genetic link to that find. To her surprise those results did indicate that she shared genetic markers with Kwäday Dän Ts'inchi. Another study, organized by The Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN), based in the Yukon Territory and Northern British Columbia, named the 17 people in Canada and Alaska that are genetically linked to Kwäday Dän Ts'inchi. That study did not find that Churchill is one of the 17.
Process in art is more than arriving at a finished product, it's about understanding materials, their origins and contextual significance. Viewers will learn from seeing Churchill work and make observations about what it means for the weaving to go in a clockwise direction versus a counter clockwise direction, and other intricacies in weaving. Churchill documents and studies the hat with precision in order to replicate the process and in doing so explores the reasons why it may have been constructed the way it was. As a true Master, Churchill is concerned with the process of replicating Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi's hat. In striving to find answers, she asks questions for which there are not definitive answers, but the potential answers and scenarios invite viewers to conjure up their own imaginations and invent the backstory of the Long Ago Person Found.
Tracing Roots is a short but strong documentary, it never feels forced or contrived. It flows with ease and the soundtrack is fresh-nothing tinny or canned about it. In a world where there are hundreds of thousands of documentaries, many of which are substandard and get lost in the shuffle, Tracing Roots is one that viewers will enjoy remembering, and perhaps retell more as a memory than a movie.
Tracing Roots will show at the Anchorage International Film Festival in December. For other showings visit artchangeinc.org.
Editor's note: At the request of director Ellen Frankenstein the following paragraph, which appeared in the print version of the story, has been removed from the online version:
"Through DNA testing, scientists have found 17 people in Canada and Alaska that are genetically linked to Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi-Churchill is one of them. This knowledge adds to her sense of awe for the journey she has undertaken. Viewers can witness the depth to which she understands the significance of this information. In providing a narrative about the past, and being focused on the present, Frankenstein creates a path for future generations to trace their own roots."
The following paragraph was inserted in its place to reflect the conflicting results of two different DNA studies:
"Churchill was intrigued by DNA research on ancient remains found in a cave on Prince of Wales Island. The results from that study of Shuká Kaa, also known as On Your Knees Cave, organized by Sealaska Heritage Institute conducted by Dr. Brian Kemp, who appears in the film, indicated that Delores had no genetic link to that find. To her surprise those results did indicate that she shared genetic markers with Kwäday Dän Ts'inchi. Another study, organized by The Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN), based in the Yukon Territory and Northern British Columbia, named the 17 people in Canada and Alaska that are genetically linked to Kwäday Dän Ts'inchi. That study did not find that Churchill is one of the 17."
The story begins over 300 hundreds of years ago when Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi was traveling across a glacier in modern day British Columbia and died there. His remains, found in 1999, were well preserved by the ice, his body and belongings gave scientists clues about his route and his genetic roots. Among his things was a spruce hat. Churchill describes the occurrence of the archeologists' approach to the site where the Long Ago Person Found was, as the helicopter approached. "The wind from the blades stirred up the area around where the body was and the first thing they saw was the hat flew in the air." As the retreating glacier willed the ancient spruce root hat, the connection with Churchill and her culture was immediate. The first thing she thought to herself was: "I want to see that hat. I want to be able to teach people how that hat was made."
Delores Churchill has a curious and agile mind. Tracing Roots follows her quest to trace the origin and significance of the hat. Her curiosity stems from her vocation as a weaver and her awareness of culture and her place in history. Frankenstein provides viewers with intimate access to Churchill's way of life. She walks alongside Churchill as a proxy for the viewer, through delightful conversations and insight into the art of weaving. Viewers see the personal and familial ties that build history and strengthen cultures. Churchill's journey to see the hat provides an opportunity for other documentary participants who give insight about Churchill and Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi.
In Tracing Roots there is scene focused on a DNA investigation that sparked Delores' journey. It is helpful to clarify that there have been several relevant mitochondrial DNA test studies conducted in Alaska and Canada.
Churchill was intrigued by DNA research on ancient remains found in a cave on Prince of Wales Island. The results from that study of Shuká Kaa, also known as On Your Knees Cave, organized by Sealaska Heritage Institute conducted by Dr. Brian Kemp, who appears in the film, indicated that Delores had no genetic link to that find. To her surprise those results did indicate that she shared genetic markers with Kwäday Dän Ts'inchi. Another study, organized by The Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN), based in the Yukon Territory and Northern British Columbia, named the 17 people in Canada and Alaska that are genetically linked to Kwäday Dän Ts'inchi. That study did not find that Churchill is one of the 17.
Process in art is more than arriving at a finished product, it's about understanding materials, their origins and contextual significance. Viewers will learn from seeing Churchill work and make observations about what it means for the weaving to go in a clockwise direction versus a counter clockwise direction, and other intricacies in weaving. Churchill documents and studies the hat with precision in order to replicate the process and in doing so explores the reasons why it may have been constructed the way it was. As a true Master, Churchill is concerned with the process of replicating Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi's hat. In striving to find answers, she asks questions for which there are not definitive answers, but the potential answers and scenarios invite viewers to conjure up their own imaginations and invent the backstory of the Long Ago Person Found.
Tracing Roots is a short but strong documentary, it never feels forced or contrived. It flows with ease and the soundtrack is fresh-nothing tinny or canned about it. In a world where there are hundreds of thousands of documentaries, many of which are substandard and get lost in the shuffle, Tracing Roots is one that viewers will enjoy remembering, and perhaps retell more as a memory than a movie.
Tracing Roots will show at the Anchorage International Film Festival in December. For other showings visit artchangeinc.org.
Editor's note: At the request of director Ellen Frankenstein the following paragraph, which appeared in the print version of the story, has been removed from the online version:
"Through DNA testing, scientists have found 17 people in Canada and Alaska that are genetically linked to Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi-Churchill is one of them. This knowledge adds to her sense of awe for the journey she has undertaken. Viewers can witness the depth to which she understands the significance of this information. In providing a narrative about the past, and being focused on the present, Frankenstein creates a path for future generations to trace their own roots."
The following paragraph was inserted in its place to reflect the conflicting results of two different DNA studies:
"Churchill was intrigued by DNA research on ancient remains found in a cave on Prince of Wales Island. The results from that study of Shuká Kaa, also known as On Your Knees Cave, organized by Sealaska Heritage Institute conducted by Dr. Brian Kemp, who appears in the film, indicated that Delores had no genetic link to that find. To her surprise those results did indicate that she shared genetic markers with Kwäday Dän Ts'inchi. Another study, organized by The Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN), based in the Yukon Territory and Northern British Columbia, named the 17 people in Canada and Alaska that are genetically linked to Kwäday Dän Ts'inchi. That study did not find that Churchill is one of the 17."