Eric Janvier Interview Writer/Director of "Heartbeat Of A Nation" -A Short Look At The Dene Drum

Photo : Kelton Stepanowich

I am always curious about a great many things and how they are made, history & their importance to people, and what it means to them.

I had the pleasure to speak with Eric Janvier yesterday about his short film that has been accepted by the NFB(National Film Board of Canada)it has also already played the Calgary Film Festival and will be in a group of shorts tomorrow Oct 5th and again on Sunday, Oct 9th-the final day of the Vancouver International Film Festival.

the link below for tickets:

VIFF Short Forum: Program 5

2022 | 20 min 22 sec

Short documentary

Original English version

Awards and Festivals

• Official selection - ShortsCalgary International Film Festival, Canada (2022)

• Official Selection - Shorts Forum ProgramVancouver International Film Festival, Canada (2022)

• Official SelectionimagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, Canada (2022)

• Official SelectionAmerican Indian Film Festival, San Francisco (2022)

                                           Agnes Duke and Brant Janvier's child

A National Film Board of Canada production 

On a beautiful sunny day in Northern Alberta, a river surrounded by green trees runs gently through the traditional lands of the Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation.

As birds softly chirp, a father makes a tobacco offering to the river and reaches his hands below the water’s surface to pull out a caribou hide. Nearby, his young child watches. Today they will learn from their father how to make a caribou drum.

Heartbeat of a Nation is an evocative short documentary by Eric Janvier. It celebrates the healing of a community and a nation through the reclamation and passing down of traditional teachings within a Dene family.

                                                   Brant Janvier and his child