The world debut of a documentary about two remarkable journeys to Berlin by the Nuxalk people of Bella Coola, B.C. has been cancelled.

Filmmaker Barbara Hager pulled her documentary from the festival after a dispute with the Nuxalk Nation.

The Nuxalk Nation had an agreement with Hager to be the first audience to screen From Bella Coola to Berlin. Delays in post-production meant that Hager couldn't get a screening before the official Jan. 28 launch at the Victoria Independent Film and Video Festival.

"We literally finished the film this week," Hager told CBC Arts Online. "It wasn't meant to hurt anyone or to be disrespectful. We had a courtesy agreement and hopefully, I can repair our relationship."

Hager has apologized to Nuxalk Nation Chief Archie Pootlass. She is arranging to have the film shown in Bella Coola, likely in mid-February.

"There's about 400 people in that community and one hall to show the film," said Hager.

The native group called the Victoria premiere a "potential disrespect" to its people. Festival spokesperson Penny Murray confirmed it was Hager's decision to cancel the premiere and says a documentary about making the film will be screened instead. The film's debut had been scheduled for months.

From Bella Coola to Berlin follows two voyages the Nuxalk people made to Berlin. In the first, in 1885, nine Nuxalk travelled to Germany to perform traditional dance and songs in 22 German cities. The second journey, filmed by Hager, follows a group of Nuxalk artists and elders as they head to Berlin to retrace the steps of their ancestors and view for the first time, cultural artifacts left behind by the original nine.

"It's a search for my own history."—Barbara Hager

Hager spent two years researching and preparing her documentary, which was shot in 2004 and 2005.

"I'm Metis and Cree and my mother is also German so there is a real personal reason for doing this documentary. It's a search for my own history."

Hager said it was interesting to discover how the Europeans viewed native peoples in the 1800s: "They seem to have a lot more awe and respect."

The 48-minute documentary is expected to be shown on Bravo! at the end of February. Hager says she's in negotiations with three broadcasters in Germany to have it broadcast there.

The director says she will work on a Nuxalk version of the documentary this year.

Source: CBC