A Nation is Coming

The video draws upon prophecy to reflect on the radical advances in technology and diseases that have affected Indian people in the past sand the present. Against images of fire, disease, and the bleakness of modern civilisation, a Ghost Dancer is resurrected: a symbol of the ill-fated prophecy that promised the restoration of the vanishing buffalo herds and the old way of life. The dancer assumes different forms as he finds his way through memories and visions; some are apocalyptic and full of dread, while others, like the Ojibway prophecy of the Eighth Fire are more hopeful and suggest a new beginning.

A Nation is Coming was co-created by director Kent Monkman and choreographer Michael Greyeyes. The associate producer was Gisèle Gordon. It was produced with the assistance of the Banff Centre, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council. Original music was by composer Phillip Djwa and the powwow group, Stoney Park.

Director/Producer Kent Monkman is a visual artist of Swampy Cree and English/Irish ancestry. He drew from his experience in painting, installation, and theatre design to direct his first video project, A Nation is Coming. His paintings have been shown in galleries and museums across Canada, the U.S., And Mexico. He designed Lady of Silences and Diva Ojibway for Native Earth Performing Arts in Toronto. He has collaborated with Michael Greyeyes on two other dance productions, Child of Ten Thousand Years and Night Traveler for the Canada Dance Festival in 1994. A Nation is Coming explores our claims on "traditional," and how our hybrid histories fit into our present, and possible futures, by building on Kent's lush, impressionistic style as a painter and Michael's exploration of traditional powwow dancing layered with steps from classical ballet.

A Nation is Coming premiered at the 1996 Moving Pictures Festival in Toronto. Other festival screenings include the 1996 American Indian Film Festival, the 1997 Native American Film and Video Festival, the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, the 1997 Dreamspeakers Film Festival (nominated for Best Experimental), the 1997 American Indian Film and Video Competition (won Best Experimental and Special Judges Award), and the Cine Dance Series. It also won Best Experimental and Best Editing (Non-Dramatic) at the 1997 Alberta Film and Television Awards.

A Nation is Coming has been sold in Canada to Bravo! and APTN.

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The video is 24 minutes, colour, stereo, Beta 1/2" and is distributed by V tape.