Remarkable documentary on return of buffalo to Banff National Park makes Calgary International Film Festival debut

The long-awaited documentary capturing the remarkable reintroduction of plains bison to Banff National Park told through puppet lantern theatre, is embarking on a journey through the world of documentary film festivals. 

In February 2024, Iniskim: Return of the Buffalo made its world premiere at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana, where it garnered a nomination for the prestigious Big Sky Award. 

In March, the film’s Canadian premiere was presented as an industry preview at the Festival de Castellers in Montréal. Since then, the film has been selected at other major national film festivals, including Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, the Banff Festival of Mountain Films and the Calgary International Film Festival. 

For Peter Balkwill, the film’s co-director and an associate professor of drama at the School of Creative and Performing Arts in the Faculty of Arts, these screenings go beyond showcasing artistic achievement; they offer a valuable platform for dialogue, understanding and demonstrate pathways toward reconciliation.

“Iniskim: Return of the Buffalo demonstrates how artistic activity can help transcend political boundaries and bureaucratic process, to reach into the heart of human expression and connect us to those things that matter in life,” says Balkwill. “The film allows us to introduce people to this unique creative experience, which normally requires the co-ordination of over 50 Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, and the challenges of placing this work into and onto the land. Now that we can move the content to the far-flung corners of the globe, our projects can reach into other cultures, which in turn can spark more diverse conversations as to the nature of this work.”

The journey of Iniskim began in 2017 when Parks Canada initiated the plains bison reintroduction to Banff National Park, setting the stage for a ground-breaking collaboration between artists, Indigenous leaders and environmental advocates. Through a shared vision between Balkwill and artists like Amethyst First Rider of the Blackfoot Confederacy, who is regarded as the artistic matriarch of the project, this production goes beyond traditional boundaries, blending art, culture, and conservation into a unified experience.

Balkwill, also a founding member and co-artistic director at the Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetry, proposed an innovative concept of an immersive 'puppet lantern' theatre experience. Drawing from their prior experimentation with lantern building as a form of puppetry, Balkwill envisioned a celebration of the buffalo's return using this technique. 

From its inaugural performance at Waterfront Field in Camp Chief Hector YMCA to subsequent iterations at various locations including Camp Riverside YMCA, Leighton Arts Centre, Barrier Lake Field Station and Grassi Lakes park, Iniskim has offered an incredible opportunity to learn about Indigenous ways of knowing. During this transformative period, Balkwill crossed paths with Leanne Allison, a Canmore-based filmmaker, igniting a collaborative effort to bring the story of Iniskim to the screen. After years of dedication and perseverance, the documentary was completed in November 2023.

“The film demonstrates how a group of artists opened their creative process to other and older ways of knowing,” says Balkwill.

As Iniskim continues to gather momentum in the world of documentary filmmaking, it teaches us the enduring power of art to inspire change and foster reconciliation. With each screening, the film invites viewers to embark on a journey of discovery, reflection and a moment pointing toward healing and a better way forward.

The film is traveling to southern Alberta for screenings on Sept. 22 and 23 at the University of Lethbridge, as well as the Kainai Nation, in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the Buffalo Treaty signing. 

“The Buffalo Treaty is the first treaty of its kind, bringing together a host of First Nation communities, reaching across provincial and national borders, to unite these people as they reclaim aspects of their culture which have been historically smothered by the colonial expansion into North America,” Balkwill says. “The 10th anniversary of the signing of the Buffalo Treaty will bring together all signatories from across Canada and the U.S which now numbers over 45 Nations. The aim of this gathering is to focus and renew all the songs, stories, knowledge and ceremonies that are tied to Buffalo and its spirit.”

The Calgary premiere of Iniskim will take place at the Calgary International Film Festival on Friday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. at Contemporary Calgary. 

Learn more about the screening. Learn more about the film.