Click on image for larger version & description

For Immediate Release March 29, 2000

Television Premiere on VTV May 7 at 4 pm (following First Stories) National broadcast on Vision TV May 9 at 9 pm

This powerful documentary profiles young native adoptee and Kwakwaka’wakw artist, John Walkus. The film will have its Canadian Television Premiere in May. It has also recently been invited to have its Theatrical World Premiere at the prestigious Taos Talking Pictures Festival in New Mexico in mid-April.

Directed by Vancouver filmmakers Maureen Kelleher and Annie Fraziér Henry, To Return: The John Walkus Story reveals the commitment and strength of a young man's struggle to belong, as he tries to return to the village he was forcefully taken away from as a child. Supported through the strong voices of other young adoptees, and the advocates who fight for them, John's story becomes a remarkable journey - as he 'carves' his way home.

While many non-native foster and adoptive parents did their best to nurture, heal and raise the First Nations children entrusted to their care, the consequences were disastrous for the thousands of native children in non-native homes. With the loss of family, heritage, language and ceremony, many adoptees grow up feeling different. Torn between two cultures, yet discriminated against by both, they often struggle between two worlds.

Executive Producers Tom Konyves and Maureen Kelleher. Produced by Full Regalia, Kelleher and A M Productions for Global Totem Pictures Ltd.

Producer/writers:
Annie Fraziér Henry, Maureen Kelleher and Tom Konyves

Produced with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund created by the Government of Canada and the Canadian cable industry, Telefilm Canada Equity Investment Program, CTF: Licence Fee Program. Produced with the participation of the Shaw Television Broadcast Fund, Canadian Film or Video Tax Credit, and with the participation of the Province of British Columbia FILM INCENTIVE B.C. Produced in Association with Vision TV, CTV, Aboriginal People’s Television Network, Knowledge Network, Saskatchewan Communications Network. With the generous support of the village of Tsulquate and the Gwa’Sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw people.

--- 30 ---

Media Contact:

Tom Konyves (604 )875-9927 Ext. 12

GLOBAL TOTEM PICTURES LTD. 48 EAST 6TH AVENUE,
VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA V5T 1J4
PHONE (604) 875-9927 EXT. 12 FAX (604) 875-9971