Kayak to Klemtu

Kayak to Klemtu is a 2017 Canadian film directed and written by Zoe Leigh Hopkins which focuses on two main stories: one, about environmental conflict and the other one about families and indigenous identity formation. It contains dramatic elements interlude with a story of Ella, the main character who pursues her uncle’s dream of protecting their land from a possible oil pipeline project.


Synopsis

Ella, a fourteen year old who is played by Ta’Kaiya Blaney, is devastated by her Uncle Dave’s death. In one of their last conversations, Dave asked her to speak up against an oil pipeline project which was planned on their Indigenous land. Dave’s wish and love for the land inspires Ella to undertake a long kayak journey to Klemtu that is located in British Columbia. During this journey, accompanied with her aunt, cousin, and uncle, Ella learns about herself and becomes more in power with the idea of standing against the wrong.

The family encounters various obstacles and challenges including some personal struggles amidst the beautiful backdrop of the Great Bear Rainforest in Canada.


Cast & Crew

  • Director & Writer: Zoe Leigh Hopkins
  • Producers: Melanie Jackson, Daniel Bekerman
  • Cast:
  • Ta’Kaiya Blaney plays Ella, the teenage charcter who becomes the source of guidance and is independent.
  • Evan Adams plays the role of uncle Don who is quite strong headed, but still acts as a guard towards Ella’s anxieties.
  • Sonja Bennett plays aunt Cory who adds laughter in the script and makes it more engaging.
  • Jared Ager-Foster who plays Alex, a relative of Ella, attempts to deal with his demons through the film.
  • Lorne Cardinal in the role of Uncle Dave,who’s memory motivates the mission.

Awards & Recognition

  • Best Feature Film at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival during the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017.
  • Nominated for a handful of awards at some film festivals in Canada, including one for the actual portrayal of Indigenous culture.

IMDB Ratings.

The film has an IMDB rating of 6.0/10, whose reviewers commend its breathtaking cinematography and emotionally charged performances.


Personal Insights.

Kayak to Klemtu is a well developed, well paced, and family-oriented film that captures the spirit of Indigenous struggles and environmental issues through the prism of a drama. Ta’Kaiya Blaney is brilliant in this role and is able to combine her soft and strong sides while performing as Ella. The film is effective in its treatment of the interdependency of people, land, and culture and the imagination of what properties should be done to save the indigenous terrain from environmental degradation.

Zoe Leigh Hopkins’ controlling contribution definitely explores more of the picturesque Pacific Northwest and is able to place the setting as a character in the story. It becomes a yonder of much emotional repair and cultural focus as it does towards environmental activism.


Cultural significance.

The film is an extraordinary study of the challenges facing the Indigenous people whilst looking at the connection between Indigenous people and their lands in a very engaging way.

It addresses pressing problems such as climate change and the overuse of natural resources and at the same time pays tribute to the traditions, legends, and vigor of the First Nations people.

Kayak to Klemtu further focuses on youth’s involvement in activism, actively asserting how one person can instigate change and are able to elevate disadvantaged members of society.