Press Kit

Weckuwapasihtit

(Those Yet to Come)

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FILM

Weckuwapasihtit (Those Yet to Come)

Pronunciation and Style Guide
Pronunciation: Weckuwapasihtit [Wetch-guh-WAH-buh-zee-dehd]

When writing the title, please include the English translation after: Weckuwapasihtit (Those Yet to Come)

Co-Directors | Geo Neptune, Brianna Smith

Producers | Taylor Hensel, Adam Mazo, Kavita Pillay, and Tracy Rector.

Synopsis
On the Eastern reaches of the occupied territory now referred to as North America, the children of Koluskap call upon ancestral teachings to guide them. Revitalizing cultural practices kept from their elders, Peskotomuhkati young people lead an intergenerational process of healing through the reclamation of athasikuwi-pisun, "tattoo medicine."

Logline
Revitalizing practices kept from their elders, Peskotomuhkati youth lead an intergenerational process of healing through athasikuwi-pisun, "tattoo medicine."

About Reciprocity Project
Facing a climate crisis, Reciprocity Project embraces Indigenous value systems that have bolstered communities since the beginning of time. To heal, we must recognize that we are in relationship with Earth, a place that was in balance since time immemorial. This short film series and multimedia platform invites learning from time-honored and current Indigenous ways of being. Reciprocity Project is a co-production of Nia Tero and Upstander Project, in association with REI Co-op Studios.

FILMMAKERS

Co-Director
Geo Neptune is a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe from Indian Township, Maine, and is a Master Basketmaker, a Drag Queen, an Activist, and an Educator. As a person who identifies as a two-spirit, an Indigenous cultural gender role that is a sacred blend of both male and female, Geo uses they/them gender-neutral pronouns. When Geo graduated from Dartmouth College and returned to the Indian Township reservation, they began to focus heavily on their weaving and developing their own individual artistic style. Experimenting with their family's signature woven flowers mixed with natural elements of twigs and branches, Geo began forming what would eventually be known as their signature sculptural style of whimsical, elegant, traditionally-informed basketmaking.

Co-Director
Brianna Smith (Passamaquoddy) grew up in Sipayik with a camera in her hand. She is a mother, aunt, friend, youth mentor, and photographer, well-known for capturing memories of her friends, family, and community. She describes her photography work as being heavily influenced by her upbringing and environment and includes subjects that illustrate culture, community, family, risk & protective factors, and resiliency. Her work captures strong, proud Indigenous people, while intentionally breaking down negative stereotypes and boxes of what Indigenous people are and what people think they should be. Brianna also works as a Youth and Communications Coordinator for Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness, where she advises Tribal Youth Councils, guiding them to find their voices and empowering them to make positive changes in their communities as well as throughout all of Turtle Island.

Artist statement
Our film is about where we fit in within our communities and regaining everything that was taken from us, including our language, our culture, our ceremonies, and our identities as Passamaquoddy people. We’ve had to do a lot of retracing of our ancestors’ steps. It’s okay to be Passamaquoddy, and it’s okay to not know what it means to be Passamaquoddy, but we can do the work to figure it out together. I’m making this film with my good friend Geo, because it’s usually other people telling our stories for us or telling us what to share and what not to share. This time, we are telling our story in our own way. It’s especially important for us to do this for the young in our community.

About Reciprocity Project

In Season One of this multimedia project, storytellers and community partners created films in response to a question: What does ‘reciprocity’ mean to you and your community? Facing a climate crisis, the Reciprocity Project embraces Indigenous value systems that have bolstered communities since time immemorial.Reciprocity Project invites global Indigenous filmmakers to center Indigenous perspectives about the reciprocal relationship between all beings — seen and unseen — and the lands we inhabit.

Collaborators

Nia Tero is a US-based non-profit working in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and movements worldwide with a mission of securing Indigenous guardianship of vital ecosystems. Nia Tero is committed to an antiracist and inclusive culture centering Indigenous rights, wisdom, practices, worldviews, and protocols.

Upstander Project is a Boston-based non-profit that uses storytelling to amplify silenced narratives, develop upstander skills to challenge systemic injustice, and nurture compassionate, courageous relationships that honor the interconnection of all beings and the Earth. Upstander Project envisions a world rooted in responsibility and respect for all where upstanders confront injustice and repair harm to ensure all beings thrive together.

REI Co-op Studios develops and produces stories that entertain, enrich and explore the power of time spent outside, while complementing the co-op’s broader climate and racial equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments.

PRESS & Acclaim

“A beautiful film about a community's reconnection to their culture.”
- Jonathan Van Ness

Weckuwapasihtit (Those Yet to Come) has screened at film festivals around the globe, including Skábmagovat Indigenous Peoples’ Film Festival. Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Tag! Queer Shorts Festival, Durango Independent Film Festival, Cartagena International Film Festival, Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Riverside International Film Festival, NorthwestFest International Documentary Festival, Independent Film Festival Boston, The Roxbury International Film Festival, Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Bendigo Queer Film Festival, The International First Peoples Festival Présence Autochtone, RIFFA - Regina International Film Festival and Awards, Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival, Vancouver Queer Film Festival, and imagineNATIVE Film and Media Festival. The film won Best Documentary Short at the Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival.

News

Credits

Weckuwapasihtit (Those Yet to Come)

A film by Niskapisuwin and Sipsis Peciptaq Elamoqessik (Geo Soctomah Neptune
and Brianna Smith)

Filmed at Motahkomikuk and Sipayik (Indian Township and Pleasant Point, Maine)
A Nia Tero and Upstander Project Production In association with REI Co-op Studios

FEATURING:
Dolly Apt
Aaron Dana
Amuwes Dana
Muwin Dana
Christopher Lewey
Geo Neptune
Brittany Sockabasin
Brianna Smith

DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY:
Geo Neptune, Brianna Smith

WRITERS:
Geo Neptune, Brianna Smith

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER:
Brianna Smith

SOUND RECORDIST:
Geo Neptune

EDITORS:
Beyza Boyacioglu, Leah Franks

COVID-19 SUPERVISOR:
Eleni Ledesma

COMPOSER:
Geo Neptune

MUSIC:
The Turtle Song
Traditional
Performed by Geo Neptune

ADDITIONAL MUSIC:
Jennifer Kreisberg

CELLO:
Jeff Chen

PHOTOGRAPHER:
Brianna Smith

ARCHIVAL MATERIALS PROVIDED BY:
Northeast Historic Film: David
Westphal Collection,
Human Studies Film Archives,
Smithsonian Institution,
John E. Allen inc.,
Acadian Warrior Photo courtesy of Lars Krutak / www.larskrutak.co

SPECIAL THANKS:
Tonya Carroll
Uenuku Hawira
Weh'na Ha'mu Kwasset (Sherri Mitchell)
Amaya Mahuta
Tipa Mahuta
Spasaqsit Possesom (Ron Tremblay)
Patrick Tākoko

For Series Credits please see the Season One Press Kit

Download the full press kit and trailer.