Working it out – Rezolution TV series highlights approaches to healing

Every Indigenous community has examples of individuals who are transcending challenges and setting positive examples for others. Unfortunately, the Canadian media usually fails to tell their stories.

Working It Out Together aims to correct this by showcasing success stories about the resilience and strength of certain individuals. Hosted by Olympian Waneek Horn-Miller, the series’ third season will feature a wide range of stories, from Inuit teachers approaching education in a traditional way to Mohawk midwives bringing birth back to the home.

According to Michelle Smith, who helped shape the season as a director and content producer, Working It Out Together adds something vital to the media landscape. “It’s so needed, it’s not even funny,” she said.

A college teacher in Montreal, Smith says she’s consistently astounded at how little her non-Native students know about their Indigenous neighbours. “It’s important to share these stories with the broader community and the communities themselves. It’s about validating and celebrating what’s going on, the incredible resiliency.”

One of the powerful stories featured in this season belongs to Eeyou Istchee’s own Wayne Rabbitskin. It’s a beautifully rendered portrait of Rabbitskin and his quest to make amends for his alcohol-fuelled, violent past.

A heart-wrenching scene of Rabbitskin seeking forgiveness from women in Chisasibi is nothing short of astonishing. But the episode also zooms out and provides a historical context on how colonialism and residential schools had a devastating impact on Indigenous men. The history is delivered succinctly and eloquently (it’s a half-hour program, after all). It’s not presented as an excuse for his behaviour, but provides important context that helps viewers better understand its origins.

Watching the episode, it is amazing just how far Rabbitskin was willing to go in sharing his past. Reached by phone, he said he hoped by doing so he might inspire other men to seek help for addiction and violent tendencies.

“I want men to be healthy. The only way for our communities to be healthy is to have healthy men. There’s a lot of impact that happens when men are not healthy. Women are afraid; children are neglected and abandoned. We need to embark on our healing journey,” said Rabbitskin.

Smith says the Rabbitskin episode represents what the series aims to do. “We feature people who are stepping out of their comfort zone and facing challenges. We look at issues as a set of systemic issues.”

Smith says every episode examines the culture of communities in pre-colonial times to see how to help heal communities in the present. She’s hopeful about the future and that a series like Working It Out Together can inspire positive change.

“We’re in a moment of resurgence and empowerment,” Smith enthuses. “We’re telling stories we really want to get out there.”

Produced by Rezolution Pictures, the 13-part series begins airing May 31 on APTN and will be accompanied by an online magazine.