Nechako is a story of survival 70 years in the making. The saga begins in the early 1950s in northwestern British Columbia, when the Kenney Dam was built to power an aluminum smelter. The for-profit project diverted 70 percent of the Nechako River into an artificial reservoir, flooding lands, displacing wildlife, destroying ecosystems and severely impacting the lives of local Stellat’en and Saik’uz Nations. The dam decimated salmon runs, which are vital to the Nations’ way of life and provide a food source that composes up to 90 percent of their diet. This crucial documentary follows the people fighting to restore a river and a way of life: Nations going up against industry, community leaders advocating for their people, Elders documenting their histories, and First Nations members living off the land, monitoring and protecting lands and waters, and sharing vital survival skills.  

Following the film, Shelley Knott, Advisor-Indigenous Relations for the City of Peterborough, will lead a group discussion on best practices for engaging with First Nation communities. This event is open to the public and City of Peterborough staff.