Winnipeg First Nation: Heart of a Home

WITH ART is a community-based art program where artists and community members collaborate on projects that examine social issues through the artmaking process. The Manitoba Urban Native Housing Association wanted to put a face to the statistics they dealt with every day, especially the overwhelming numbers of Aboriginal families waiting for safe and affordable housing. Filmmaker Jim Sanders has been using film to explore social issues for many years. An excellent match was made and the artist and MUHNA began a journey of further discovery together. The resulting film examines the Aboriginal housing issue from many points of view.
 
Although distinctly a Winnipeg perspective – shots of some of the city’s most desolate urban spaces are combined with footage of some of its grandest houses, the faces of many familiar Winnipeggers are seen, local Aboriginal music and artwork is incorporated into the documentary footage – the story is a recognizably urban one told anywhere in the world. The artist and MUNHA have created a portrait of Aboriginal urban life, its great challenges and its power.
 
“Making Winnipeg First Nation and working closely with the Aboriginal community has reaffirmed my belief in art as a gateway to the heart for all involved, be it the artist, the subject, or the audience. It is key to unlocking a better future for all in this great city of ours.” Jim Sanders