Documentary on Attawapiskat highlights inequality and injustice

Victoria Lean’s documentary After the Last River follows the one-sided relationship between Attawapiskat, one of Canada’s poorest Indigenous communities, and De Beers, the world’s largest diamond mining company.

In 2008, De Beers opened the Victor Mine, just 90 km up the Attawapiskat River from the community. Lean first became acquainted with the First Nation through her father, an environmental biologist called to Attawapiskat to assess the rising levels of mercury in the river due to mining activity.    

Shot over a five-year period and released in 2015, After the Last River was screened on CBC’s Documentary Channel July 1. Lean hopes her film will create a pause in the celebrations.

“I want people to reflect,” she said. “This country isn’t the kind of place we should be celebrating until there’s justice for communities like Attawapiskat.”

The film reveals the deplorable living conditions in Attawapiskat and contrasts them with the luxurious events put on by De Beers while exploring the overlooked environmental impacts of the mine. Documenting these inequalities had a lasting impact on Lean.

“The longer you spend time with the people, the more you learn – and understand how systemic the inequality is,” she explained. “You realize how hard it is for people in Attawapiskat to have an equal chance, and all the barriers preventing them from giving their children and grandchildren a better life.”

By making her documentary, Lean had a chance to connect with the community. “I participated in anything I could in the community. I found the people warm and welcoming. I learned so much about community and family and forgiveness. I did a lot of ceremony while I was in Attawapiskat and learned many of the teachings. It’s not in the film because those are sacred, but it was really important for me.”  

She did want those connections to shine through the screen, however. “Documentary is supposed to capture people’s hearts as well as their minds,” she explained. “There’s been so much [media] coverage of Attawapiskat… I wanted to bring an emotional connection to the people and issues in the film.”

Though After the Last River takes a highly critical perspective toward De Beers, Lean isn’t irrevocably against resource development.

“I think it’s possible for industry to do things the right way,” she said. “There are sustainable ways to mine diamonds, but the way it’s being done in Attawapiskat is not one that benefits the community enough –  and it poses a high risk to the river.”

Lean hopes her film increases awareness among the Canadian public and helps lead to meaningful dialogue that creates lasting change.

“It’s not just a picture of Attawapiskat, but a picture of how Canada has treated Indigenous communities like Attawapiskat,” Lean insisted. “There needs to be movement on all fronts because the issues are interconnected. Attawapiskat needs to have the authority to make decisions about their lands, and share in the benefits. And Canada needs to support initiatives that empower Indigenous people on a community level.”