Living by the Drum

Living by the Drum

Quick stats about the movie

Hit the trail with Hanwakan Blaikie Whitecloud across Canada as he explores one of our nation’s most sacred celebrations, the Pow Wow, and learn how Indigenous nations from coast to coast are living by the drum.

Creative team

Writer: Ashley Richard
Director: Hanwakan Whitecloud
Producer: Gary Zubeck

Filmmaker’s statement

Enjoy this piece – it was a blast to film!

About Hanwakan Blaikie Whitecloud

Hanwakan Blaikie Whitecloud

Hanwakan Blaikie Whitecloud travelled extensively until age five but has since called Winnipeg home.

His parents, both Indigenous lawyers who started their lives living on the land, taught him to live a good life full of love and giving back. He attended College Jeanne Sauvé and grew up in St. Vital close to the University of Manitoba where his mother has taught for over 25 years.

Hanwakan has been engaged in the skateboarding and business community as a mentor and leader, supporting youth to strive for their best selves. He even has some skate-sons, as he’s stepped into the role of father figure for youth in need. As a filmmaker his work focuses on building identity for urban Indigenous youth through the skateboard community and beyond.

Hanwakan is also an active volunteer, especially with 1JustCity at their overnight emergency warming centre. He’s a punctual man but those 6:30 a.m. volunteer shifts are really easy to get to as his wife, Tessa, is the executive director of 1JustCity. Hanwakan and Tessa co-facilitate workshops on reconciliation, systems change and generally just have tons of fun together trying to make the world a better place.

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