Totem Talk

Totem Talk

22 mins | Documentary, Animation | April 3, 1997

Traditional Northwestern Indigenous spiritual images combined with cutting-edge computer animation in this surreal short film about the power of tradition. Three urban Indigenous teens are whisked away to an imaginary land by a magical raven, and there they encounter a totem pole. The totem pole's characters—a raven, a frog and a bear—come to life, becoming their teachers, guides and friends. Features a special interview with J. Bradley Hunt, the celebrated Heiltsuk artist on whose work the characters in Totem Talk are based.

Totem Talk

22 mins | Documentary, Animation | April 3, 1997

Totem Talk
Traditional Northwestern Indigenous spiritual images combined with cutting-edge computer animation in this surreal short film about the power of tradition. Three urban Indigenous teens are whisked away to an imaginary land by a magical raven, and there they encounter a totem pole. The totem pole's characters—a raven, a frog and a bear—come to life, becoming their teachers, guides and friends. Features a special interview with J. Bradley Hunt, the celebrated Heiltsuk artist on whose work the characters in Totem Talk are based.
Producers National Film Board of Canada
Original title Totem Talk
Directors Kathy Linder, Annie Fraziér Henry
Writers Annie Fraziér Henry

Cast

Morgan Rose

as Teen

David Thomas

as Teen

Stella Johnson

as Totem (voice)

Sam Bob

as Totem (voice)

Jason Taylor

as Dancer

J. Bradley Hunt

as Self

Sean Hunt

as Self