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National Indigenous History Month – Canadian documentary A Cedar is Life highlights the importance of Indigenous storytelling

Today, as we celebrate National Indigenous History Month, we recognize the importance of uplifting Indigenous creators to share heritage stories from their own perspective.  

A Cedar Is Life is a feature documentary by Indigenous producer Harold C. Joe and business partner Leslie D. Bland at B.C.-based Orca Cove Media. The goal of Orca Cove Media is to facilitate education and understanding by sharing Indigenous history through storytelling. The documentary A Cedar Is Life shares the importance of the cedar tree to Traditional West Coast Indigenous communities and their way of life.


Through support from the Rogers Group of Funds, Orca Cove Media received funding to execute projects like A Cedar is Life and Tzouhalem, a documentary which examines the near-mythic figure of Cowichan Chief Tzouhalem, the account of his life from both historians and First Nations Elders, the folkloric tales concerning him, his impact on the modern relationship between the Crown and First Nations, and how his legend remains alive to this day. Rogers is the largest source of funding in the country for documentaries, and this year we’re supporting 23 new documentary productions across the country with a focus on equity seeking storytellers. 

Building on its history of supporting Canadian content and storytelling, in 2021 the Rogers Group of Funds announced two new partnerships to further support diverse content creators in Canada – the newly created Canadian Independent Screen Fund in partnership with the Black Screen Office and a new $1 million fund for Indigenous creators in British Columbia, in partnership with Creative BC. 

It’s through the support of Indigenous storytellers like Harold C. Joe and untold stories like A Cedar is Life that we can help ensure that Indigenous history is never forgotten.