“Talking in/talking out” : indigenous knowledge, filmmaking, and the decolonizing poetics of visual sovereignty : a conversation with Dr. Dorothy Christian

Abstract

Positioning and introduction Sonia Medel: I want to begin by welcoming you, Dorothy, and thank you for joining us for this conversation that will form part of the Postcolonial Directions in Education Special Issue on film and film festivals. I also want to acknowledge that we are engaging in this this conversation, here, in the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival (VLAFF) office, in the Woodward’s building, in Vancouver, on unceded Coast Salish, Tseil-wautulth, Musqueam and Squamish lands. This is very much a contested building and land, a reality that forms part of our ongoing dialogue behind the need for a Special Issue on the (de)colonial potential of film and film festivals. I would like to hand over the floor to you, Dorothy, by asking “Who is Dr. Dorothy Christian and why were you interested in joining us today?”. [excerpt from the interview]