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Released in 1968 and often referred to as Canada’s first music video, The Ballad of Crowfoot was directed by Willie Dunn, a Mi’kmaq/Scottish folk singer and activist who was part of the historic Indian Film Crew, the first all-Indigenous production unit at the NFB.  The film is a powerful look at colonial betrayals told through a striking montage of archival images and a ballad composed by Dunn himself about the legendary 19^th-century Siksika (Blackfoot) chief who negotiated Treaty 7 on behalf of the Blackfoot Confederacy. The IFC’s inaugural release, Crowfoot was the first Indigenous-directed film to be made at the NFB.

1968, 10 min 18 s

Native Reflections

Speaking of Canada

Award of Excellence
FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival
October 20 to 25 1987, Halifax - Canada

First Prize , Mention and Best Selection
SODRE International Festival of Documentary and experimental Films
July 2 1971, Montevideo - Uruguay

Blue Ribbon Award
Itinerant - American Film and Video Festival
May 12 to 16 1970, New York - USA

Gold Hugo - Category: Short Film
International Film Festival
November 8 to 20 1969, Chicago - USA