Is The Crown At War With Us? — it’s a pressing question, and it’s also the latest release from award-winning documentary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin.This NFB film explores the struggles of Esgenoopetitj First Nation (a.k.a. Burnt Church) as the Mi’kmaq people assert their treaty rights as affirmed in the 1999 Supreme Court Marshall Decision.

Tucked against the forested shore of Miramichi Bay,Esgenoopetitj First Nation is a community ofapproximately 1,500 people (and almost as many BlueHerons). Following the Marshall Decision, the Mi’kmaqof Esgenoopetitj sought to exercise their treatyrights by fishing Miramichi Bay, as their ancestorshad done since time immemorial. The Department ofFisheries and Oceans (DFO) said “no way” — that’s the unofficial translation, of course — andpressured the community to sign a deal that would cedecontrol of their fishery to the federal government.

When the people refused, the small communitywas thrust into the national spotlight. Many Canadianswere introduced to the fishing dispute with images ofa DFO patrol vessel ramming a small Mi’kmaq fishingboat, aired on the nightly news in the fall of 2000.Maligned as militants and renegades in the corporatemedia, the families of Esgenoopetitj speak of suffering surveillance, harassment, intimidation andabuse from the RCMP and the DFO in the years since, as well as increasedtension with neighbouring non-Native fishing communities.

Their traps crushed, their boats confiscated and theirfishers pulled into Canadian courts, the resilientcommunity resisted signing a pact with the Crown untilearlier this year.

When Obomsawin visited Esgenoopetitj at the height ofthe tension, she learned the extent of the stateaggression against the Mi’kmaq fishers. “I met some people in the community and I promised Iwas going to do something,” she told rabble. Is TheCrown at War With Us? is what she did. Using threegenerations of Mi’kmaq voices along with thecomprehensive research she is known for, Obomsawindocuments the resistance, the siege and the hope ofEsgenoopetitj First Nation.

rabble interviewer Daron Letts spoke with Alanis Obomsawinby phone.

Daron Letts: You’ve screened Is The Crown at War WithUs? at festivals across Canada but the premiere washeld in Esgenoopetitj itself. What was that like foryou?

Alanis Obomsawin: Oh, I’ll never have a screening likethat again. It was such an experience. To bewith the people themselves and to see their reactionand how moved they were — and laughing in places Inever thought they would. It was wonderful.The film is being very well received everywhere. Weopened the Aboriginal Film Festival in Toronto a fewweeks ago and the reaction was really incredible.It was shown at a festival in Vancouver, but Icouldn’t attend. Theytold me there were at least 200 Indian people there tosee it. It was just incredible, because they have thesame problems there in B.C.

Letts: What do you hope people will go away with afterviewing this film?

Obomsawin: Well, they’ll realize that this is a storythey have not heard on television before. I think it’sabout finding out about the people who are involved inthis. Hearing the people speak articulately and withdignity. I think people will go away with someknowledge that they didn’t have before.

Letts: How does that change the public’s understanding of the situation, hearing thestories told by the people who are actually involved?

Obomsawin: I think in general people are tired ofinjustices and they would like to see something betterfor Indian people. Every time Indian people stand upfor some changes they are labelled as criminals and badpeople, and the general public realizes how wrong that is.

Letts: The voices of elders and children are prominentin your films. What do these generations have to teachus?

Obomsawin: Certainly the old people have the historyand the experience that is important to all of us.But, I never want to forget the children. They surviveall these things that happen in their own homes andcommunity. I find wisdom in children also.These are courageous people. I must say I was veryimpressed with all the people I met there.

Letts: Regarding the question posed in the title ofthe film, is the Crown at war with Esgenoopetitj?

Obomsawin: Well, it looks like it is after allthese problems. Obviously it’s amazing that theSupreme Court can make a decision and it’s notrespected by other government departments. That’spretty scary, I think.