I Am Gitxsan

“I Am Gitxsan” follows Phoenix Apperloo, a recent high school graduate reconnecting with his Indigenous heritage in Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada. Inspired by encounters with residential school survivors, he writes a heartfelt letter to Prime Minister Trudeau about the injustices faced by his people.

The documentary highlights the impact of colonialism on the Gitxsan community, featuring insights from experts like Dr Gabor Maté and showcasing their resilience through protests and legal actions. It culminates with a moving message of hope and determination, emphasizing the power of the Gitxsan people’s enduring spirit, the beauties of their culture, and their commitment to future generations.

Hossein Martin Fazeli

Hossein Martin Fazeli is a multi-award-winning filmmaker with a keen eye for storytelling, a passion for inspiring characters, and a devotion to human rights!

As a filmmaker, he has shed light on important issues and inspired change through his decade-long work. His films have been broadcast around the world, including on ARTE, BBC, and Canal+, winning 37 awards in the process. His ambition is to bring about change and help communities as exemplified through his 2007 production, “The Tale of Two Nazanins”, about a teenage girl imprisoned on death row in Iran. The film, broadcast on major international networks such as the BBC and CNN, is credited with igniting an international campaign that saved her life.

In 2008, Fazeli was chosen by the Sundance Institute to take part in their International Filmmakers Award. He has lectured around the world on the ever-changing face of film activism and has held workshops with students at various educational institutions such as SFU (Canada), SOAS (UK), Aarhus University (Denmark), and the European Film Academy. His talks/workshops delve into the creative process of filmmaking, and the challenges and rewards of making social justice documentaries, and provide valuable advice to aspiring filmmakers.

For more info, please visit: www.fazelifilms.com

Director Statement

On the surface, I Am Gitxsan is a film on the Gitxsan Nation’s struggle for justice and dignity. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Gitxsan laxyip (territories), the film tells the story of the Gitxsan Nation’s hard fight against neo-colonialism, with an emphasis on its hidden cultural treasures and its messages of oneness and peaceful co-existence for humanity. Beneath the surface, however, I Am Gitxsan is more than just a documentary on an Indigenous nation; it is a hard-hitting moral parable about the power of good to overcome evil, a young man’s homecoming to his native land, culture and identity.

A shattered vase-like delicate assembly of the Gitxsan’s haunting story with animated recreations, the film is powerfully driven forward by the highly charged humanistic words and deeds of some of the most vocal members of this Indigenous nation and allies such as the renowned trauma specialist Gabor Mate. This is a story of transcendence, survivorship, and bravery of a nation of 18,000 people is facing in their fight to preserve their heritage and to reclaim the ownership of the land that was stolen from them when the colonial settlers set foot on their laxyip in the 19th century.

Director:

Hossein Martin Fazeli

Year Released:

2025

Country:

Canada

Length:

01:04:17

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