Premiering on APTN in March: Treaty Road, docuseries that explores the truth of the Numbered Treaties
Treaties – A formal agreement between two nations (Indigenous Nations and British Crown) who have a desire to work together for peace and mutual benefit. While Canada has reaped benefits from treaty, Indigenous Nations have suffered devastating consequences of the promises not upheld by their treaty partners.
The treaties are in effect for perpetuity, and they didn’t include sovereignty. The First Nations retained their rights as sovereign nations. The Numbered Treaties refer specifically to 11 treaties that were signed between 1871 and 1921 in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and parts of BC, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. These specific treaties involved an attempt by Canada to obtain legal title to the land in exchange for benefits including annual payments, health care, schooling, farm implements, etc.
TORONTO (February 1, 2024) – After close to a decade of in-depth research, Saxon de Cocq, Hannah Hermanson, and Ell McEachern of 3 Story Pictures, Doug Cuthand of Blue Hill Productions, and Candy Renae Fox are very pleased to bring Canadian audiences Season 1 of Treaty Road, the ground-breaking, long overdue six-part docuseries (one hour each) that follows Dakota/Anishinaabekwe educator and researcher, Erin Goodpipe (RezX, The Other Side, Bathsheba: Search for Evil) and Métis writer, director, and producer Saxon de Cocq [The Other Side, The Invincible Sergeant Bill (CBC) and Land Acknowledgement (CIFF)] on their personal and communal journey as they travel the old roads to uncover the truth about the signing of the Numbered Treaties, signed between 1871 and 1921, and ultimately themselves.
Beginning March 5, 2024 at 9 PM, Treaty Road will be broadcast on APTN.
Filming of Treaty Road took place across Treaty 1 through 6 territories in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
While exploring his Métis ancestry, writer/director Saxon de Cocq discovered that his great grandfather (x4) was the Honourable James McKay, a prominent Métis from the Red River area. McKay was involved in many of the Numbered Treaty negotiations, eventually becoming a Treaty Commissioner. With mixed feelings, Saxon is driven to learn more… what was McKay’s involvement, his motivations for playing a pivotal role in this part of history? Saxon enlists the help of friend Erin Goodpipe, a community educator and researcher who has devoted years in building her knowledge around Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.
Treaty Road is directed by Candy Renae Fox (The Other Side, Big Brother Canada, Zarqa), and hosted by Saxon de Cocq and Erin Goodpipe and produced by Saxon de Cocq, Candy Renae Fox, Ell McEachern (Staying Wild, The Other Side, ZARQA S2), and Hannah Hermanson (Staying Wild, The Other Side, Dirt Farmers, ZARQA S2). The series is written by Saxon de Cocq and story edited by Berkley Brady (Dark Nature, The Secret History of: The Wild West) with Doug Cuthand(Guardians: Evolution, Miywayawin, Big Bear) serving as executive producer.
Cinematography by Jeremy Ratzlaff (By Faith, Denis, Never Seen Again) and editing by Jennifer Prokop (Staying Wild, The Other Side), Kolby Kostyniuk (Staying Wild, Dirt Farmers), Nina Staum (Ice Racer Showdown, The Other Side), and Adam Phipps (Amplify).
Treaty Road was produced with financial support from Canada Media Fund and Creative Saskatchewan.
ABOUT SAXON DE COCQ
Saxon de Cocq is a Métis writer, director, and creative producer from Southern Alberta, Region 3 and is a citizen of The Métis Nation of Alberta. After 15 years of refining his storytelling craft, he’s perfectly at home in both the documentary and scripted worlds. He has been the creative force behind documentary series like APTN’s nationally broadcast The Other Side (writing and directing 18 episodes and creative producing the series), as well as writing, directing, and producing eight short films that were screened and broadcast across the country, including CBC. Saxon has a preternatural gift for bringing stories to life in a relatable way and is currently in post-production on his second documentary series of his creation with APTN. Saxon is also excited to be in development on three different scripted television series.
ABOUT ERIN GOODPIPE
Erin is a dakȟóta wíŋyaŋ/ Anishinaabekwe from tatanka najin oyate (Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation) and is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and researcher. She is currently in the Master of Indigenous Education program and has taught at First Nations University of Canada. Alongside her education, she is involved in a number of media projects, notably as a television host on RezX, APTN’s The Other Side, and is involved in Indigenous health and wellness research projects. Erin is passionate about wholistic artistic experiences and continues to work on community embedded theatre projects in a variety of ways. This can be seen in her involvement with the Globe Theatre in Regina, SK, on a number of projects including: Making Treaty 4, In Care, Where the Blood Mixes and Women of the Fur Trade. Erin has worked in various realms of community (from Indigenous youth to deputy ministers) using the arts to explore and transform personal and political narratives using story gathering and sharing practices through an Indigenous lens. Her professional work is rooted in her personal circles, where kinship, ceremony, land/sky/water based practices lead her learning and living.
ABOUT CANDY RENAE FOX
Candy Renae Fox is a two-spirited, Plains Cree woman from the Piapot First Nation. Candy has been able to nurture her growth as a film director with over 20 years of involvement in the industry. Whether through her beginnings as an actor and eventual progression to directing, Candy is passionate about storytelling. Candy holds a BFA in film production. Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival named her short film Backroads as one of Canada’s Top Ten Student Shorts. She is an alumnus of the National Screen Institute’s IndigiDocs program where her film ahkâmêyimo nitânis / Keep Going, My Daughter premiered at Hot Docs. She was awarded Best Short and Audience Choice by the Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards for Keep Going. More recently, she has directed for broadcast television with Amplify (APTN), The Other Side (APTN), Big Brother Canada (Global), and ZARQA (CBC Gem). Candy is excited to be co-producing and directing the ground-breaking, six-part docu-series Treaty Road which will air on APTN in early 2024.
ABOUT DOUG CUTHAND
Doug Cuthand is an independent producer, writer, and journalist with over 30 years experience, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Little Pine First Nation, a Plains Cree community in Saskatchewan. Doug is the author of two books dealing with First Nations history and treaty issues – ASKIWINA: A Cree World and Tapwe: Selected Columns of Doug Cuthand and has written a weekly column for Post Media for 30 years. He was the Chair of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College Board of Directors, precursor of the First Nations University of Canada. Blue Hill Productions is owned by Doug Cuthand and produces documentaries, docudramas, and dramas for all markets.
ABOUT HANNAH HERMANSON
Hannah has over a decade of experience in the television and film industry. After earning her honours degree from Middlesex University in London, Hannah hit the ground running, making herself an indispensable part of any team she joined. From production manager to line producer, Hannah has taken on a wide range of roles and responsibilities, consistently executing projects with efficiency and grace. What sets Hannah apart is her unique combination of skills. She has a talent for bringing people together, encouraging collaboration and teamwork for the greater creative good. Her resourcefulness is unmatched, and she can turn even the most challenging of situations into a success. Her ability to lead with confidence and finesse has earned her a reputation as a problem-solver, and her contributions to the projects she works on have a lasting impact.
ABOUT ELL MCEACHERN
Ell has over 20 years’ experience in the Canadian Film and Television industry, and credits on 90+ hours of content. This journey has endowed her with a love of collaboration and the ability to foster it across diverse teams, helping projects coalesce from fragile dreams into powerful concepts. Ell’s first industry steps were taken on the accounting and finance side — and she keeps one foot firmly planted there as a CFA Charterholder. She maintains her membership in the DGC Accounting Caucus, as well as a noteworthy track record of project execution, delivery and successful audits. As a producer, Ell combines an exceptional eye for detail with big picture thinking. While she’s a gifted creative in her own right, her secret weapon is helping the team levitate over complex roadblocks to get the stories told.
Media Contact:
Cynthia Amsden
Roundstone Communications
Phone: 416.910.7740
E-mail: cynthia@roundstonepr.com