Photo courtesy of Charles Wilkinson

“Maybe we’re not totally screwed” – that’s the cutline on the movie poster for Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World, a documentary showing at three sold out screenings during the 34th Vancouver International Film Festival. The cutline reflects what director Charles Wilkinson took away from making his latest documentary: a sense of optimism.

“It’s a place where people go for a week and stay for a year,” says Wilkinson, who has visited Haida Gwaii during all seasons of the year.

Wilkinson also noticed Haida Gwaiians are less consumed by technology such as their cellphones, and there are no logos on the islands, with the exception of a dollar store.

“In Haida Gwaii, the pace is much much slower [than city life], which was an invitation to stop and pay attention,” says Wilkinson who spent about two years completing the movie.

Because of his observations, Wilkinson says he decided to dig deeper and figure out why that was. Haida Gwaiians seemed friendlier and spent more time conversing with others than those in the cities.

“The rate [at which] we are extracting goods from the natural world can’t go on very much longer. The Haida see that and this provides an opportunity to look ahead and prepare for it. They have been very instrumental in fighting tanker traffic. If one of those tankers hits one of the many rocks on the islands, their lifestyles are over,” says Wilkinson.

Eco-trilogy

Director Charles Wilkinson.

Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World is the third in Wilkinson’s trilogy; the first two films were entitled Peace Out and Oil Sands Karaoke. In this third film, Wilkinson’s aim was to offer a glimmer of hope for the future.

He says his current film touches on the Haida people themselves.

“By owning the land and taking the protection of the land seriously, the Haida have proven that their land and culture can be sustainable for another 14,000–15,000 years,” Wilkinson says. “For people who are aware of the fragile track western civilization is on, Haida Gwaii presents a model for a viable alternative. People are coming away with this idea of a life that is stress-free and happy by cutting loose from some of that corporate control.”

Wilkinson says the lessons we can learn from watching such a film is to stop consuming so much and turn away from messages that corporations are sending out.

“It’s been a surprise, how deeply concerned people are about the issues we face and how many like-minded people there are,” says Wilkinson.

When audiences watch Peace Out, a movie about people destroying their backyards for energy, Wilkinson explains, many remember the movie long after the end credits.

“People will come up to me and say, ‘Since I saw Peace Out, I always turn the lights off when I leave the room,’” says Wilkinson.

In Oil Sands Karaoke, Wilkinson asks the question: “If we all know deep down how much trouble we are in environmentally, how can we deal with it?”

Wilkinson says that one of the major goals he and his team had was to speak to people who actually worked there.

“Despite initial fears of restraint, people were very happy to talk because people didn’t really live there. They’re more transient. They’re there for the jobs and they don’t really care,” says Wilkinson with regards to filming in Fort McMurray, Alberta, for Oil Sands Karaoke.

In the end, the response was positive. The movie was screened four times in Fort McMurrary and attended by workers in their hard boots.

“People knew the damage that was going on and were worried about not being able to repair it,” says Wilkinson. “But on Haida Gwaii, it was a very different kettle of fish. People are invested in that place and love it.”

Searching for answers

Haida Gwaii child with crab. | Photos courtesy of Charles Wilkinson

“What we see at film festivals is that people really want to change and they’re looking for answers. That’s what’s heartening and pretty cool to see,” he says.

As for future projects, Wilkinson says he and his “extremely small” group of four people continue to make feature films, though he isn’t ready to discuss them with the public just yet.

“I consider it a jinx to talk too early about things,” says Wilkinson. “I’m terrible at [pitching movie ideas]. You’ll just have to wait for the [next] movie to come out. You’ll find it surprisingly interesting.”

Additional screenings of Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World will be in early November at Vancity theatre.