Aaron Tambour’s film From the Elders: Hay River Stories, which premiered on July 11, features 12 Elders and stories from their childhood.
“The ones that did show up, they really liked the video. They were happy to hear the stories,” said Tambour of what he described as a small but engaged crowd for the premiere.
“I think they just really enjoyed listening to stories of Hay River, or stories from other people they haven’t heard stories from.”
Tambour said he started working on the project last year with the town’s Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre. Twelve Elders were interviewed by Tambour for the final film. Each shared a story that was five to 20 minutes long.
While Tambour wanted to speak with more Elders, the film had to be produced by the end of June. The complete film is two and a half hours long with everyone’s story told one after the other.
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“I didn’t add any other visuals to it. The stories give a visual enough on their own. And seeing them talking, their reacting, their laughing and their smiling, thinking of their story and the memories they have, I think that was good,” Tambour said.
Tambour made the film to share fond memories of Hay River’s past as more present-day stories are told about “disasters, the floods, the fires.”
“I think [the Elders] were happy to tell a story, regardless. I think once I explained to them what I was doing and what I was aiming for, they were happy to do it,” said Tambour.
Stories shared in the documentary include one from Tambour’s father, Fred, about travelling to Buffalo Lake seasonally as a child. Lila Belanger, in another, recalls playing baseball in Hay River 50 years ago.
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“That team is still playing today with younger players now. [Belanger] still goes out and watches,” said Tambour.
Tambour said Deborah Stanley’s story, about growing up on Hudson Island learning to trap, hunt and fish, also stuck with him.
“I let [the Elders] know before we started the story – because some of them were a little nervous – that I just wanted them to tell me a story, not to worry about who’s going to be watching and how many people would see it, but just tell a story,” he said.
Tambour said the full documentary will be posted to his YouTube channel with clips of each story.
He said there has also been interest in another Hay River screening, and he will share information on his Facebook page if one is scheduled.
