“I would like to say what happened at the school today was truly special. We were honored to host the Klabona Keepers Screening at the school this afternoon. Not only did we view the screening but we were blessed with the presence of some of the Klabona Keepers as well.

This film was enjoyed by the whole school and the students were more than happy to take part in it. I cannot express how much I appreciated the Klabona Keepers Elders for joining us today as well as Tamo Campos for setting up and sharing the story he filmed. It was a tremendously moving film and I recommend everyone to view it if possible. On behalf of Dease Lake School we presented the Elders with packaged meat prepared by the students on Tahltan Day.”

“Thank you Klabona Keepers for standing up. This is a beautiful film. We need to keep standing up to. I’ve been involved with similar fights here in Dease Lake and I this night really reminds me of those times. How important it is to keep fighting”

“This movie was incredible. Thank you so much. I raise my hands to the Klabona Keeper elders. Your strength inspires me. ”

“Being amondst the elders watching this screening of the Klabona Keepers, it really was heartfelt. It was really an honour to sit amongst them. I only knew parts of it. I was a young mother then and I didn’t see the whole story. Now with adult children and seeing the impacts, the real devastation between family units due to industry, due to them being amongst our people. The impacts on animals. The way we look at life now is not the same. I remember my dad going trapping. It wasn’t just a hobby it was a way of being. We have forgotten our way of being and this showing really really made me emotional. I sat there. With tears thinking about my dad when he was up in the Klappan doing coal mining. The asbestos mine in the Cassiar. Then Shell coming in. There was so much throughout my whole life. How do you say in a few words what it meant to you. So few elders and Tahltan people stood up to this. You shouldn’t be able to count on two sets of hands. the people who stood up. You can’t ask for a few words when so much needs to be heard and said. I just honour my elders. I stand with them I just raise my hands to you all. Nedischa (I love you) and thank you for fighting for our land. ”

“”When one protestor said that the government were taking indigenous children away from their land, and now they are taking the land away from the children. From residential schools to the resource extractions on indigenous reserves, I think it really shows the injustice that indigenous people face in Canada.””

“I liked it a lot. I’m happy that we have our territory and i’m happy that our elders fought. Thank you”

“Klabona keepers ❤️ I love this film! My grandparents are Klabona Keepers and my aunties and uncles. I’m so proud of them for the things they done for our territory. I’ve always wanted a documentary of what they done and did. Huge thank you for everything you do for this community and making this film!”

“Amazing!!! What an experience to watch this film. Words cannot describe how amazing this is, to acknowledge the Elders that fought hard for the land. I am Jerry and Mary Quock’s granddaughter and I am proud of where I come from. Huge thank you to Jasper and Tamo, Thank you so much for the hard work for the film. Thank you both so much for all that you do for the community. Very thankful for you two. Medu Cho! ”

“It was so awesome! I really enjoyed the movie and good food and people! Thank you for all the work you put into this, making it possible!”

“Meduh!! The Film was very emotional n rewarding! Love it!!”

“Mēduh Cho for making such an incredible movie 😊 Thank you does not feel like enough words for you and the Klabona Keepers. We’re indebted to you all for the rest of our lives, I kept crying thinking about the movie and all the time and efforts. You are all truely amazing and thankful I was there at this screening”

“I found the film to be very moving and it brought back a lot of memories of the fight for Klabona. Our community is not against development but we just want to see it done right. We want to make sure our area and resources will live on to serve future generations.”

“Thank you for everything you did for our community, the Klabona Keepers & the movie you made, forever grateful. It was such an awesome movie, I was fighting back tears the whole way through”

“Words cannot descibe how amazing it was. I love it so much. I lost count how many times I cried, to see the elders we lost. To see how beautiful our territory is. Thank you so much Tamo & Jasper. You guys did an awesome job. ”

“The cinematography was truely *breathtaking*, and the content heartwarming/heartbreaking. I was really deep in trauma and grief but the footage helped me smile and sleep well. Our cultures and families and territories are sooooo precious and magnificent. As we heal from genocide it takes a dedicated ally to remind us of what we have, and what we will lose if we don’t heal and fight for it.”

“I loved this film. I almost cried so many times, such a beautiful movie about our elders”

“I really loved the film. It is so moving and really tells the story of the fight for Klabona. Thank you so much for all your work on this ❤️ and everything you do for and with our community”

“Being on a blockade. It takes some kind of special person to do that. It takes that bravery that courage and that love. The willingness to hold all of that and do what you did. I have nothing but good feelings for this. You never budged from your truth on your land. What a beautiful way to be. To have your story now and be sharing it with others in communities. 

I knew I was going to cry watching this film. Thinking about our elders who have passed on who used to harvest from the land here in Tsleil-Waututh. We used to get 90 percent of our diet from the inlet. The health of the inlet goes hand in hand with ours.This film has given me a lot of hope as we continue our fight against TMX. The obstacles are huge. With Sacred Trust we are stopping them. We’ve had 18 insurance companies drop out of projects related to fossil fuels on our territory. So today it gives me hope. Because sometimes our people say the are just going to push it through anyways so we might as well get a deal. But after watching this to be reminded that we can be unstoppable. Thank you for using your voice. Especially the youth who spoke, your bravery fills this room. What you stand for can move this whole building. It gives us hope. and I hope all the youth that watch this it instils that same response”

“I really enjoyed it. I felt empowered to fight for what I believe in and even more interested in indigenous cultures. They showed me what if possible with community and determination. I was really moved by the story. ”

“Thank you so much for sharing the story of your community coming together to protect the headwaters! It’s deeply inspiring to see and hear the love and courage among everyone - elders, parents, children. Sending you lots of love and gratitude from the unceded Coast Salish lands also known as Vancouver”

“The film is so inspiring and powerful. Your resiliency, strength, and foresight for our future moved me to tears through the whole film! I have been sharing about it through my networks because I think everyone should see it! ”

“Dear Klabona Keepers, their family, friends, and the filmmakers of the film, I’m Nanami, a university student studying in the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. I had the pleasure of watching the film Klabona Keepers at the VIFF. I would like to say thank you for sharing your story. I am studying climate action and this film has inspired me very much. Not only did it emphasize the importance of action but it also showed me the importance of protecting our lands. I am from Japan and watching this filmed reminded me of how my family would go fishing, see fireflies, swim in the ocean and how I want to protect these lands for the future generations. Thank you again for your actions and stories. All the best, ”

“This film touched my heart. I laughed, cried, cheered, gasped in fear, sighed in sorrow, and cheered along your accomplishments when the resource company was forced to turn back! Thank you fo protecting the headwaters. There is a pipeline being built where I live that crosses through my school. I’ve protested, sent emails, put up stickers against it but it keeps going. I feel hopeless sometimes - like these companies are so much bigger and more powerful than me or a community group, I want to give up. This film gives me new strength and new hope to keep going, again and again and again. Thank you, thank you, thank you! ”

“The Klabona Keepers film moved me in an indescribable way. The Elders and Indigenous land defenders are resilient and powerful humans that deserve to have their land honoured and their asks respected by the government and industry. I stand with them in solidarity and I will do anything I can as a settler to continue the conversation of the importance of protecting sacred land with my community. ”

“I just finished watching this movie, streamed through VIFF and was so inspired by the way the community stood together, and came up with effective, non-violent blocking approaches to stop exploitation and destruction of their land. The issue of protecting the earth is one that is so important and the rest of the world is finally waking up to the great losses that have been caused by irresponsible human activity, for the sake of short term gains for certain business sectors. And the losses still continue. Bravo for your successes, and thanks for sharing the story and the wisdom of the elders with the world. I hope that those fighting for protection of the earth will be able to see this film and learn from and be encouraged by the bravery and sacrifice demonstrated by the community and the film producers. I love how the funds raised from the film and donations will go into youth education! ”

“What a privilege it was to watch this film. It contains so many essential truths, passionately recounted by people whose determination and wisdom holds lessons for us all. Brilliant! ”

“I was so impressed with the patience, persistence and commitment to nonviolence of the community. And I loved watching the boy grow up over the course of the film.”

“You are true hero’s. Against all odds you stood your ground without violence because you knew you were protecting the land, the water and the air for yourselves and for future generations. You stood up for what you knew was true and you one. Thank for your determination, your courage and your resilience through difficult times. You have my respect. Thank You, Thank You!”

“How powerful are these grand mothers.
Their sincerity about the importance of the spiritual importance of this territory ”

“I watched this with youth (students) and after seeing human stories of Indigenous land protectors, they had significantly more empathy for Indigenous lived experiences”

“Im so inspired by the grit, heart and determination I witnessed during the film. The land is a part of the Klabona Keepers, there is no separation, they are one. I want to act bravely and imagine myself taking a stand for the land I love in the same way. Recently someone said to me, where is the land that raised you? Yes this gives me a different worldview than how I was brought up to think about land. The land did raise me, I want to always treat it with the same respect of my elders and ancestors. ”

“It’s inspiring to see people give so much to protecting their environment. It motivates me to try to do more to make the world a better place”

“Klabona Keepers is a powerful film showing how persistent Indigenous resistance can be effective.”

“Having the Keepers present was also helpful to hear their stories!
I didn’t know about the Klabona Keepers so it was very informative especially the multi generalational legacy!! It was moving and made me think about what I wouldstand for under the circumstances!!They should be proud of themselves!! Bravo!!”

“I did not know that mining companies paid for teachers at the residential ‘schools’. This was a breakthrough concept for me—such a clear link to the purpose of the ‘schools’.”

“This film is a brilliant way for non-Indigenous people to start understanding the importance of Indigenous land protectors. ”

“Klabona Keepers is a clear bright spot that shows the power of grassroots movements to protect land rights! Indigenous stewards of biodiversity through conservation and connection living brings me a deep sense of hope to protect the places I love as a young person. ”

“Thank you for sharing your story with us. You are heroic, joyful, brave, and inspiring. And watching the film has strengthened my own resolve in my organizing. ”

“Your courage and determination in protecting your sacred lands was truly inspiring. I commend you for the hard battle that you fought on behalf of all humans. Thank you!”