(2014, 22 mins) A young family from the Secwepemc First Nation lives in a traditional pit house near Kamloops in the Thompson River Valley of British Columbia. Their lives are rooted in concern for the environment, respect for unceded traditional territory and a return to traditional First Nations culture.

Kanahus ("red woman") is a skilled midwife who engaged in peaceful protests against the expansion of a ski resort that would compromise her people's traditional territory. The punishment meted out for this was to separate this young nursing mother from her baby and incarcerate her.

As powerful commercial interests prevailed, heavy-handed law enforcement tactics against her and others in her community continued. These included destruction of personal property, searches of homes without search warrants and threats of constant surveillance of all their communications. Such state-sanctioned intimidation tactics against freedom of expression and freedom of thought only served to convince her family of the urgent need for decolonization.

As part of this process, Kanahus and her partner Guateberi have decided not to register the births of their children with governments. As a family living in harmony with nature, they are focused on teaching their children to respect the earth and be strong and self-sufficient. Freedom Babies celebrates their resilience and engagement in the long process to cleanse the ill effects of colonization.

Director Doreen Manuel
Producer Doreen Manuel