Stories of Hope & Strength

In October 2024, Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) unveiled Stories of Hope and Strength, a powerful short film series amplifying the voices of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples. This project, born from the ongoing crisis of violence toward Indigenous peoples, offers a counter-narrative to the statistics, sharing personal stories of resilience, healing, empowerment, and hope.

With the disproportionately high rate of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, this series serves as both a platform for storytelling and a call to action. Through the films, viewers witness accounts that challenge the dehumanizing numbers and instead focus on the lived experiences, cultural strength, and unbreakable spirit of survivors, families, and our future leaders.

“Our stories are not just statistics,” says Mary Teegee-Gray, CSFS Chief Administrative Officer. “This film series was created to remind the world that behind every number is a young woman with a story, a community with strength, and a culture with deep-rooted resilience. These films are about the power, beauty, and brilliance of our people.”

The series consists of eight short films created by Indigenous filmmakers that focus on personal journeys of healing, shedding light on how communities across Canada are standing together to support one another and create safer, hopeful futures for generations to come.

“The strength of these stories are an inspiration, and a symbol of our resiliency,” says Julie Daum, CSFS Executive Director of Justice. “These stories are a reminder of how far we have come, but also how much work is left before we have justice. There are 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and it is our intention with this film series to encourage action and response. What will you do to stop these injustices from happening again?”

This project was funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada and is part of a larger effort by CSFS to support the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). It aims to foster dialogue and inspire action by sharing the stories that often go unheard.

After the series was launched in 2024, each film was publicly released on the project’s YouTube page. The films can be viewed on the project’s Youtube channel at Stories of Hope & Strength – YouTube. 

To stay updated on the Stories of Hope and Strength, follow the project’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesOfHopeandStrength.