Documentary Films
Documentary Films
Carey has produced and directed three documentaries to date – Before the Sun, Oaklands Totem, and Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Aitemaako’Tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun
Before the Sun is a heartstopping documentary following Logan Red Crow, a young Siksika woman as she competes bareback in the Indian Relay – one of the most dangerous horse races in the world. The true story takes place on Blackfoot Territory in southern Alberta, where the viewer is met with Logan’s fierce determination to hone her skills, and the loving support from the Red Crow family. The treacherous sport entails riding bareback once around the track before jumping off and switching horses for three rounds total. The film, directed by Banchi Hanuse of the Nuxalk Nation, does an excellent job of portraying the significance of equines in Siksika culture.
As executive producer, Carey worked alongside Mike Wavrecan and Izzy Pullen to create the film. It premiered in February of 2023 and is the winner of the Big Sky Award at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.
DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
Picking up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket
Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket follows Carey as he and his team travel over 200,000 kilometres, visit 77 communities, meet over 10,000 people, and welcome “more than 800 contributions” into their care. Collected from residential schools, churches and government buildings, each object has a story to tell, and each survivor has something to say. Narrated by the artist, the film weaves together those stories with Carey’s personal journey, examining how profoundly art can open our hearts to the pain of truth and the beauty of resiliency.
DIRECTOR
Oaklands Totem
The Oaklands Totem documentary follows the process behind creating the Hearts and Hands at Oaklands Elementary in Victoria, B.C. It follows Carey and the students throughout the three years it took to create the totem, from choosing the tree, to carving, to the final raising of the pole on May 27, 2021. As an intergenerational project, faculty and students from all grades participated and had the opportunity to imprint their hands on a banner that accompanied the totem. The heartwarming film signifies the vitality of molding Indigenous knowledge into the education system as a step toward reconciliation.
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