— Image: Jacob Power —
Written by: Emily Ash Cutajar, Community Programmer
Folil Trafün (Joining Roots) is an Indigenous and Afro-diaspora film festival that recieved an Inspiring Community Grant to host four events for UBC and the surrounding communities last September. The project was made possible by a first time collaboration between three groups: FicWallmapu, an Indigenous and Latinx collective that puts on a yearly film festival and various smaller film events in the Wallmapu; the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre (VLACC), a local hub for both Latinx and non-Latinx residents to experience Latin American arts and culture; and the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) team from the Faculty of Forestry at UBC. Two of the event's main organizers, Neftalí Hernández and Estefanía Milla-Moreno, cited Folil Trafün as not only a successful event, but an important step forward in advancing the process of truth and reconciliation and decolonization of campus. The films showcased a rich tapestry of Indigenous and Afro-diaspora films, while also fostered critical dialogues, cultural exchange, and community building for all participants.
Neftalí Hernández, is a Zapoteco member and is currently a PhD candidate within the UBC Faculty of Forestry working in Climate Smart agriculture in the Indigenous communities of his home in Oaxaca, Mexico. Estefanía Milla-Moreno, is Mapuche and a recent alumna (PhD (‘23) and MSc (15’)) of the Faculty. Neftalí and Estefanía have been working with Hisham Zerriffi, who was born in Morocco and was raised in Canada. He is an Associate Professor and the current Associate Dean, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion of the same Faculty. Hisham leads the JEDI team of the Faculty of Forestry, where Neftalí and Estefanía work, and have helped coordinate this synergy with community organizations all the way from ʷməθkʷəy̓əm to Wallmapu territories.
Why Film?
Estefanía and Neftalí shared that the Faculty was pleasantly surprised by the event's ability to connect communities and realities from across the continent. This highlights the power of film to provide a comprehensive picture, transporting viewers to the realities portrayed, especially when crafted by Indigenous directors and actors in their own lands. This medium, often underutilized, served as a potent tool for breaking colonial norms and expectations.
The success of the festival went beyond mere screenings. A highlight of the festival was also the important conversations that took place after the film screenings. Neftalí emphasized the need for uncomfortable, yet essential dialogues, particularly within academia. The films became a catalyst for discussions on displacement, traditional ecological knowledge, and the challenges faced by Indigenous communities in the face of extractive industries. An important piece of feedback, as Neftalí and Estefanía noted, was that the films were transgressive, offering self-representation and authentic narratives. They wanted to ensure that the effort of this collaboration allowed for complex dialogues and made it a priority to serve Musqueam food by Salmon and Bannock and Salishan Catering services, as food has always had importance in bringing people together.
Film was also not the only art form that was celebrated at the festival. Another critical aspect was the graphic designs produced by the talented Colombian graphic designer Adriana Contreras Correal. She attended the films, intently listened to questions from the audience and facilitated fruitful debriefs from the films. Adriana would then create pieces of art that is a summarized the themes, conversations and insights from each event, even weaving in her own identity. Estefanía explained the importance of this work by saying, “we not only have collectively watched a powerful film, reflected, and shared our impressions on our own identities among our peers, but also have co-created community art with the expertise and incredible talent of Adriana.”
Outcomes and Transformative Conversations
Joining Roots: Folil Trafün achieved the goals of fostering dialogue, cultural exchange, and transforming academia — all the while building community within UBC. Estefanía and Neftalí highlighted their success in providing a platform for reciprocal relationships, and ensuring fair compensation for Indigenous professors, students and elders involved. The event also aimed at promoting territorial dialogues and reclaiming spaces within academia, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging unceded land.
Through the event, Estefanía and Neftalí were able to pilot a new way of collaboration among community partners and sponsors that was built on trust, flexibility and openness. Working across time zones and diverse expectations, the collaborative approach challenged the practice of cherry-picking Indigenous topics in academia, and instead advocated for a transformational and intersectional engagement with Indigenous issues.
When discussing the films to be included in the showcases with FicWallmapu, they agreed on selecting films that could advance the process of truth, reconciliation and decolonization. They were particularly interested in exploring themes of identity, justice, migration and, land rights in different Latin American contexts but with similar challenges and opportunities. This resulted in more than 220 minutes of films representing several nations present, in what are known today as American countries and states, including: Kanaka Maoli (Hawaii); Mixteco, Amuzgo, Ñomndaa, Purépecha, Maseuales, Totonacs, Mayas Qeq’chi, Quiché, Ixiles, Qanjobales, and Afromexican (Mexico); Garífuna (Guatemala); Guna dule-Wayuu (Colombia); Kichwa Otavalo (Ecuador); Aymara (Bolivia); Quechua (Peru); and Mapuche (Chile). Approximately 71% of the films were directed by an Indigenous person and about 64% of all the films were directed by a female director. This was an unprecedented collaboration and representation of films, including animation, fiction, documentary and fiction.
Folil Trafün is proof that film can foster understanding, dialogue, and transformation. The JEDI’s team commitment to creating a space for Indigenous voices, coupled with their strategic use of film as a medium, has not only inspired conversations but also paved the way for a more inclusive and transformative future within academia. The festival's impact extends far beyond the screens, contributing to the ongoing journey of truth, reconciliation, and decolonization.
Please visit this gallery to check out some of the beautiful moments of Folil trafün. This photo gallery was provided by UBC Forestry’s Sonya Adloff, who helped the JEDI team with all the graphic material of Folil trafün.