A National Film Board of Canada Production
Known for her intimate and riveting films, director Kim O’Bomsawin now invites us to experience the vibrant universe of Ninan Auassat: We the Children. Shot over more than six years, the film brings us the moving stories of three groups of children from three different Indigenous nations: Atikamekw, Eeyou Cree and Innu.
In following these young people through the crucial milestones of childhood, right to the threshold of adulthood, we witness their daily lives and aspirations, along with the challenges they face.
Filmed from “a child’s eye-view” and presenting a groundbreaking vision of contemporary Indigenous youth, this documentary is notable for the complete absence of adult voices and “experts on young people”—holding space instead for a new generation with a burning desire to be heard.
The result is a captivating journey that becomes a call to action, at a time when the voices of young people echo, demanding the right to be recognized and an opportunity to blossom.
Known for her intimate and riveting films, director Kim O’Bomsawin now invites us to experience the vibrant universe of Ninan Auassat: We the Children—an immersive documentary celebrating the power and vitality of Indigenous youth.
Shot over more than six years, the film brings us the moving stories of three groups of children from three different Indigenous nations: Atikamekw, Eeyou Cree and Innu.
In hearing their heartfelt, raw stories and the ways they understand their history and experiences, we are plunged into the world of their dreams, learning about the issues that concern them and their hopes for the future. We follow these young people through the crucial milestones of childhood, right to the threshold of adulthood, witnessing their daily lives and aspirations, along with the challenges they face.
Ninan Auassat: We the Children transcends cultural barriers, presenting a groundbreaking vision of contemporary Indigenous youth—one that highlights their courage and sincerity. Filmed sensitively and from “a child’s eye-view,” this documentary offers a deeply human perspective that encourages listening and mutual understanding.
The result is gripping and powerful. In the complete absence of adult commentary and “experts on young people,” the film holds space for the new generation. Ninan Auassat: We the Children is a bold cinematic statement that reveals a burning desire to be heard. As the young people’s voices echo, demanding the right to be recognized and an opportunity to blossom, their journey becomes a call to action.
A powerful film shot from “a child’s eye-view” without the voices of adults, this documentary reveals the dreams of a new generation poised to take flight.
A film by
Kim O’Bomsawin
Produced by
Mélanie Brière
Nathalie Cloutier
Colette Loumède
Editing
Alexandre Lachance
Cinematography
Hugo Gendron
Location Sound
Lynne Trépanier
Sound Design
Luc Raymond
Original Music
Wyler Wolf
End credits
With the participation of
Monique Benjamin Hervieux
Legend Iserhoff
Rain Iserhoff
Jade Mukash
Saige Mukash
Matapew Ottawa
Zachary Ottawa
Alyssa Pitcoutlaigan
Isaac Verreault-Lambert
Jessica Vollant
Maïka Vollant
And of
Laurence Bacon-Morissette
Raphaël Bernadette
Andy Canapé
Yanissa Chilton
Kellya Échaquan
Jérôme Flamand
Jerrycko Flamand
Jimmy Flamand-Black
Camille Goubil
Sam-Ivan Nequado
Jouan Ottawa
Layannah Ottawa
Maggie Ottawa
Lyvia Ottawa Dubé
Steffi Ottawa Dubé
Guyane Quitich
Izaak Quitich
Evanne Quitich-Boivin
Dana Vollant
Molika Iana Vollant
Zachary Vollant-Vachon
Researched, Written and Directed by
Kim O’Bomsawin
Produced by
Mélanie Brière
Nathalie Cloutier
Colette Loumède
Editing
Alexandre Lachance
Cinematography
Hugo Gendron
Location Sound
Lynne Trépanier
Sound Design
Luc Raymond
Original Music
Wyler Wolf
Additional Images
Michel Valiquette
Additional Sound Recording
Alain Auger
Andrés Solis Barrios
Camera Assistant
Louis-Philippe Michaud
Production Assistants
Nina Bouchard
Saige Mukash
Maggie Ottawa
Annick Picoutlaigan
Julie Verreault
Editing Assistant
Mathieu Quintal
Technical Support – Editing
Pierre Dupont
Marie-Josée Gourde
Patrick Trahan
Transcriptions
Alice Faucher
Translation
Joséphine Bacon
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Isabelle Kanapé
Alexandre Nequado
Katherine Nequado
Gabrielle Vachon Laurent
Translation and Subtitling
Trans & Sub Coop
Titles
Mélanie Bouchard
Online Editing and Colourization
Yannick Carrier
Foley
Lise Wedlock
Foley Recording
Geoffrey Mitchell
Re-recording
Shelley Craig
Additional Music
“Tshekuan Mak Tshetutamak (Qu’est-ce qu’on va faire)”
Composed and performed by Philippe McKenzie
With the permission of CBC Northern Service, QCS 1466/1979
“Migwetch”
Composed and performed by Sakay Ottawa
“I Miss You”
Composed and performed by Isaac Verreault-Lambert
Thanks to
The children in the communities of Pessamit, Manawan and Whapmagoostui
École secondaire Otapi
École secondaire Uashkaikan
Whapmagoostui Sundance Organization
Matthew A. Iserhoff
Matthew Mukash
Natasia Mukash
Danielle O’Bomsawin
Kelly Canapé
Adeline and Bastien Picoutlaigan
Alain Picoutlaigan
Henri Picoutlaigan
Eve-Aurely Rousselot
Ronald Rousselot
Marie-Claire Vachon
Mya Vollant
Maggie Ottawa
Sakay Ottawa
Julie Verreault
Jérémie Battaglia
Diane Bilodeau
Jean-François Caissy
Mathieu Fournier
Marc Larouche
Valérie Latreille
Charlotte O’Bomsawin
Johanne and Yvon O’Bomsawin
Ophélie O’Bomsawin
Legal Advisor
Julie Patry
Media Relations
Nadine Viau
Marketing Manager
Karine Sévigny
Johanna Lessard
Marketing Coordinator
Julie Fortin
Administrator
Sia Koukoulas
Senior Production Coordinator – Administration
Brenda Nixon
Senior Production Coordinators
Joëlle Lapointe
Chinda Phommarinh
Production Coordinators
Alexandra Bourque
Lucia Corak
Coralie Dumoulin
Alexandra Levert
Studio Coordinators
Gabrielle Dupont
Stéphanie Lazure
Pascale Savoie-Brideau
Technical Coordinators
Julien Archambault
Daniel Claveau
Jean-François Laprise
Line Producer
Mélanie Lasnier
Executive Producers
Colette Loumède
Nathalie Cloutier
A production of the National Film Board of Canada
Quebec, Canadian Francophonie & Acadian Documentary Studio
© 2024 NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA