Original subtitles

(gentle music)

(gentle music continues)

(sings in foreign language)

(drums beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drums beating)

(sings in foreign language)

- [Dave Voiceover] People think Klemtu

is just a tiny village in the middle of the ocean.

But our home is ancient.

And no matter where we live in the world,

Klemtu is always our home.

When I leave this earth, I won't be there

to hear you testify for me,

do your best to speak for our land.

You can't explain to these people what it's like

to come from such a special place,

but you can tell them it deserves to be protected.

(gentle music)

- Hau, hello.

My name is Ella Ellis.

I'm honored to speak before you today.

There are many things that my late Uncle Dave

wanted to share with you about our territory.

He didn't live long enough to share them with me in person,

and I'll do my best to show them with you today.

(gentle upbeat music)

- Oh, no, no, I'm not paying him a dime.

What?

You try squeezing blood from a stone.

The place is caving in.

Yeah.

Well, if you want it, you come and get it.

Don't be so dramatic.

- Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow.

- Oh, shush.

You're crying now,

you just wait until I push that barb through.

- What?

- It's the only way to take these things out.

You gotta push it through, snip off the barb

and then pull it back. - No, no, no, no.

There's gotta be another way.

You want me to pull the barb out backwards?

All right.

It's gonna take half your hand guts with it,

but suit yourself.

- No, no, no, just,

just do it quick, okay.

- Okay, that's better.

Now buck up.

Hey, what's up Alex?

(Alex screaming)

Here, simple

- Call Alex.

- [Voiceover] Sorry, I didn't get that.

- Call Alex.

- [Voiceover] Sorry, I didn't get that.

- I'm not gonna cry.

I'm not gonna cry.

(door knocking)

Oh, come in.

- Happy last day of school.

- In here.

I can't believe school's over.

Yay.

- Cory, you're finally grieving.

That's good.

- Oh, no, no, no, no.

I'm not going down a big downward thing.

I'm just, I miss my students, you know, and.

Oh God, I'm sorry.

You want some.

- That's, no thanks.

- Here.

- Why don't. - I just was.

- Why don't I just take this away from you.

- Okay.

- Hey.

- Wow.

You look so much like your Uncle Bear sometimes.

- Aunt Cory.

- [Cory] Yeah honey.

- Do you think that Uncle Bear would be mad

if I didn't do his testimony at the hearing?

- What?

Why?

- 'Cause I can't,

I can't do it.

(car engines revving)

- [Reporter] Coming up after the break,

a tugboat pushing an American fuel barge

has run aground in BC waters,

spilling 200,000 liters of diesel and heavy fuel.

The recovery effort has been hampered by weather

and what local people are calling,

a slow response by the government.

More on this after the break.

- Hey.

(gentle music)

We ask the tree for teachings

so that we may know the old ways.

And we ask the tree for permission

so that we may use its bark.

I need you.

We need you.

You need to ask the jury panel

to stop the fuel barges from crossing our territory.

They didn't ask our permission,

and they have to stop that pipeline.

(gentle music)

- What if I don't do it right?

And then I let everyone down.

(gentle music)

- You have a beautiful voice,

as beautiful as our home.

Now use it.

Testify for me.

Tell them what they'll lose

if they allow oil tankers along our coast.

They don't even know.

- I don't have to say anything, Uncle Bear.

You're not gonna die.

- Everything dies.

That's the whole point.

- We never got to do our kayak trip to Klemtu.

You're supposed to show me all of these things.

(gentle music)

- You'll do it, one day.

(gentle music)

And you'll take me with you.

(gentle music)

(both laughing)

(gentle music)

- [Dave Voiceover] You'll still take me with you.

(people speaking indistinctly)

- Mom.

- Yeah, baby.

- I know what to do.

I'm gonna do the trip

and I'm gonna scatter Uncle Bear's ashes

in all of the places that he told me about all the way home.

And that's where he'll rest,

all up the coast from here to Klemtu.

It'll be our big kayak trip after all.

He would love it.

Mom wouldn't he?

- It's a beautiful idea.

I think it's just too hard.

- I knew you would say that,

but here's an idea, what if Uncle Dawn and Aunt Cory come?

Would you say yes then?

- [Ella Voiceover] Don always says yes to Aunt Cory.

- No frigging way.

Are you frigging crazy?

Why don't you just bury him like normal people do?

- Okay, it is a little bit crazy, but so was Dave.

I mean, you knew him, right?

- He stole my action figures, you know,

he wasn't crazy, he was just a bastard.

- It's not just about scattering Uncle Bear's ashes.

You know, uncle Bear's last wish is that

I would do the testimony at the hearing and come to and,

but I'm not like you, I don't even know my own territory.

And I need to,

to stop these tankers from coming in and ruining everything.

It's not just about me or and Uncle Bear's ashes.

It's about all of us.

It's environmental.

- Environmental?

No, I'm not doing it.

Environmental?

It's a bunch of granola eating, throw their propaganda

and all that BS.

Oh, they come into our territory, barge in there

with their socks and their sandals,

and they think they know what's best.

They don't know shit.

They should just stick to smoking dope

and drinking their bean juice for $7 a glass

and breastfeeding their kids 'til they're nine-years-old.

Forget it.

I mean, they drive cars just like the rest of us.

Bunch of bloody bunch of petunia wearing hypocrites.

Oh, with their $9 organic leaves.

"Oh, it's organic, it comes all the way from California.

"A thousand miles."

Yeah, by a truck.

The bunch of idiots.

And you think they're gonna change their mind

about a pipeline that's gonna pump oil right to China?

No one wins that fight sister.

And the government.

Oh, this government is gonna crap oil

all over the place if they want.

And there's nothing that a little six-year-old

can say about it.

- I am 14.

- All right, you know what?

You don't need to decide right now.

You could think about it.

You know, let it roll around a bit in the old noggin.

- And what about your son?

Like, when's the last time that you saw him?

- Just.

- What?

What?

- I'm hemorrhaging money here.

Your husband left me high and dry with this place.

I've got renovation bills.

This was supposed to be our family startup,

but this place is gonna kill me before it dies.

Plus we can't leave Alex here alone.

Guy just got a hook in his hand.

- They're very pointy.

- It was still in the package.

- Okay, so you're thinking about it.

I like your attitude.

- I'd be better off sending your kid with you.

- I can go.

- What?

- Sure.

- You'd take these girls on an environmental kayaking trip

to drown my brother.

- Sure, why not?

Sounds kind of fun.

- Ah, well, you wouldn't get far.

This one's six-years-old and this one,

you've seen her paddle.

- Oh, come on, we're not that bad.

We can do this, Don, just help us out a bit.

- Look, you're gonna need charts.

You're gonna need a plan.

You have to organize all your gear.

- All totally your element.

We already have the stuff.

- We have all of this stuff.

- Just help us out a little bit with our plan.

- I got stuff to do.

All right, you guys come back later

and we'll take a look through my old trip logs.

- Ooh, he's going to help us,

he's gonna help us. - Don, Don, Don.

Don, Don.

But okay, wait, wait, wait.

Does this mean you're gonna come with us?

- I said no.

Or didn't you hear me?

- Okay.

Okay, let's give it time.

- He's totally gonna help us.

- Nice.

Hi mom.

Yeah, uncle Don said yes.

Yeah.

We're paddling to Klemtu.

(birds chirping)

- I bet Alex can't wait to see a spirit bear again.

- Uncle Bear always said that they show themselves to you

when you need something to make you feel strong.

- Yeah, I remember.

(birds chirping)

- Aha.

- Aha.

(gentle upbeat music)

- This here, the root you got.

- Oh, hey,

Dave gave this to me.

- My Chief from Cuckoo's Nest action figure.

It's mine.

My dad gave it to me for my birthday.

I knew he stole it from me.

He just gives it away and goes

and dies on me. - Anyway.

- Yeah, this is the route you guys should take.

Now Alex, you might not be so useless after all.

How many times you paddled this way?

- Twice.

Once with Dave.

But we left from Vancouver.

- So you guys are lucky then

'cause you're leaving from Tla'amin

it'll make it a short first day.

Now you stick along the coast area,

you'll avoid crossing the sound.

And you still have to hit open ocean.

But it shouldn't be so bad this way.

How was crossing the sound?

- It was a little airy.

We were hitting 20 foot swells out there.

- Oh my God.

Sorry what now?

I guess I just didn't think

about what we were actually doing.

Like actually being on a boat in the real ocean

for a month on a skinny little boat.

- Aunt Cory.

- Can we just focus here please?

Now you stick this way,

I think you should hit Bella Bella in time for the hearing.

But that weather, it's gotta hold.

- It'll hold.

- It'll hold.

- Yeah.

(Cory screaming)

Jesus.

Why do I have to do this?

Help me.

- Look, do you want be in the middle of nowhere

and then discover you don't have your tent pegs

or your fly or that you don't know how to do this?

- That's what Alex is for.

- Have you seen Alex?

- Okay, gotcha.

Okay, can we at least do this inside?

- Well, you won't be camping inside, Cor.

You gotta be prepared right.

I don't want you guys dying on me out there.

Maureen would kill me.

- All right, all right.

Look, just come help me with this tent pole here man.

The hook's the wrong way.

It keeps falling off.

Oh.

I see.

- Yeah, you keep at it.

- Okay, almost there.

Where you going?

- Oh, you're doing good.

Keep, keep, keep going.

Looking good, real good.

(Cory speaking indistinctly)

Check, check.

And I want you to call me if you get into any trouble

or you get lonely.

- Good check.

Over and out.

- And Cory,

I have Uncle Bear's ashes to spread along the way.

But I was wondering if it's possible for me

to keep a little bit of him in my pouch, possibly forever.

- Yeah, of course honey.

You keep him close to your heart.

- Finally doing it, Uncle Bear.

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle upbeat music)

- Yep, never gonna make it.

- Here we go.

Whoo.

- Whoo.

- Whoo.

- Hi.

Okay,

We can do this.

(gentle music)

- [Dave Voiceover] We say that our spirits

take a last look at this world

to take it all in before they go on their journey

to the other side.

When you go home to Klemtu for this hearing,

look at the world and take it all in.

And all the right words will come to you.

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle music)

- Ahoy.

Hey, mind if we join you guys?

- Okay.

Denise, come say hi.

I'm cooking up some oysters for dinner,

I picked them myself.

Dinner's almost ready, honey.

- Told you I'm not eating those things.

- Yeah, I'm not so sure about those either.

I mean, it's red tide season.

- Oh.

- See, you guys got a divorce boat, eh.

- [Cory] Alex

- What?

- We'll, just, you know, we're just figuring things out.

- Oh no, I mean that's just what they call tandem kayaks.

- [Cory] So, how long have you guys been paddling for?

- Two days.

It's our honeymoon.

- Yeah.

(Denise laughing)

- Oh, right on.

Congratulations.

- Thanks. - Thanks.

- I'll try one of your oysters.

- Good, okay.

- Wow, that is very impressive.

(waves crashing)

(insects chirping)

(birds chirping)

(insects chirping)

Oh my God, I'm dying.

- You okay, Aunt Cory?

- Nothing a little amputation won't fix.

- You know, your bed's ready, mom.

- Just leave me here to die.

It's fine.

(Cory moaning)

- Thanks.

Oh.

- Oh my arms are so sore.

I wish those oysters would just hurry up and kill me.

- Alex.

(Cory vomiting)

- No. - Come on.

You can do it.

(fire crackling)

(insects chirping)

(fire crackling)

- She should come and eat.

(insects chirping)

(fire crackling)

- I don't know about this whole thing.

I mean, I wanted to go just as much as you in the beginning,

but now it just looks like we're gonna have to turn back.

- No.

No, no way.

- Why did you think she could do this?

- Because I wasn't allowed to go with just you okay.

My mom thinks that Uncle Don is here.

- What?

Dude, you lied to your mom.

(fire crackling)

How far did you think we'd make it before they found out?

Honestly, that is the stupidest thing.

That's it.

We leave in the morning.

- No.

No, that is not an option.

Don't you get how important any of this is.

Alex.

(Ella moaning)

(waves crashing)

(zipper opening)

- Oh crap.

(zipper opening)

- Our food.

Didn't you tie up our food?

- No, you said you were gonna do it.

- That was your job.

Great, Alex.

Now we have nothing.

Could you make this any harder?

Well, now what are we gonna do?

- Get Alex, I can't move my arms.

- Alex, come here.

- What?

- I seriously can't move.

- You just gotta get up, mom, come on.

- I can't get up

and I definitely can't get back in a damn kayak

because I cannot get the hell out of the sleeping bag.

Now please unzip me or I'm gonna scream, I'm freaking out.

- Okay, okay, just chill.

You just gotta stretch, mom.

(Cory screaming)

Okay, I'm done.

You deal with her.

- You want me, I.

- Don't touch me.

- Ow.

- Hey, don't blame me

'cause Dave dumped all this responsibility on you.

It's not my fault she can't move.

- Oh. - Or that you lied.

None of this is on me.

- What?

Who said that he dumped any of this on me?

- He was my stepdad, remember?

It's just like him to burden people with mega loads

of responsibility. - You don't know

what you're talking about.

- Yeah, I do.

Don's leg broke now because of him.

He can't do it by himself.

- Well, whatever.

Okay, because what are we supposed to do?

We can't just wait for her to get better.

And we have no food.

- We're calling for help. - No, no, no.

- Stop. - Nope, nope.

- Stop.

No, stop it.

No, no, no, no,

(water splashing)

Well, we're screwed.

(birds chirping)

(wind gushing)

- Crap.

(boat engine revving)

- Oh, thank God,

(birds chirping)

- Maureen, you just take it easy on her,

she was just trying to honor Dave, all right.

Alex, we're taking down the tents.

Where's your mom?

- She's in there.

Bad oysters.

- [Cory] I'm dying.

- What the hell were you guys thinking?

Come on, let's get going before it gets dark.

- No.

- Ell, this hearing, you're too worked up about it.

- This beach could be completely covered in fuel.

I'm not gonna sit in Vancouver and let that happen.

(birds chirping)

You got to grow up in Klemtu.

It's your place.

And it's Uncle Don's place.

It's even Alex's place and he's not even from there.

You know, you could help me make it my place too.

But you don't want to.

Uncle Don, how come you don't live there?

Mom, why didn't I grow up there?

You left Klemtu.

And when you did, you took something from me.

- It wasn't easy, Ella.

- Oh, I know.

- No, you don't. - Well, you don't know

what I know or what I feel.

There's a hole here.

- We all have a Klemtu-sized hole in our hearts.

That's what it means to be who we are and live away.

- Maybe it doesn't have to be that way.

I won't know until you let me go on this trip.

- You haven't even passed the first camp.

It's not safe.

- Just let me try, mom.

What's more dangerous?

Some rough waves, bears, or going hungry

or being stuck in the city

paralyzed to do anything

because you taught me not to believe in myself.

- I'll take 'em.

Come on.

They're not gonna get very far.

Let her try, Mo.

She'll be safe with me.

(birds chirping)

- Dave chose the right person

to convince this jury of anything.

That pipeline doesn't stand a chance.

Oh, okay, go ahead, try.

But you radio me when you need help.

- Yeah, but what about mom?

- [Maureen] I'm not looking after her.

- Hey. - So what do you

expect me to do, carry her on my shoulders.

- You can take the tandem.

(Ted vomiting)

And all of our stuff.

If I could just trouble you for a ride back into town.

Like as a trade, right.

Look, my wife, she's not loving this adventure.

And in fact, she said

it was either the honeymoon or divorce.

So, you know, and besides these devil oysters

are coming out both ends right now.

- Hey, don't blame the oysters.

(Don exhaling)

You are about as good at roughing it as you are at business.

It's deal.

- Yeah.

- Rise and shine princess.

(Cory moaning)

You just take it easy.

(birds chirping)

Yeah, I think it was right around here.

I caught the biggest load of crab ever.

Oh that's the life, eh, crab fishing.

- Hey Cor, Dave, ever take you crabbing?

- Aha.

- What?

- No.

- But you like crab though, eh?

I seem to remember you at one sitting

putting away three crabs.

- Ah.

- What's that?

- Nothing.

- You gotta turn your head Cor.

Otherwise your voice just goes straight out in front of you

and the person at the stern can't hear you.

It's one of the annoyances of the tandem,

otherwise known as the divorce boat.

So the simple solution, you just turn your head

and the person at the stern can hear you.

- Or we could just stop talking.

- Seriously Cor, I can't hear you.

- I said, oh, sorry.

- Yeah, I was thinking if I ever get my boat sold,

I could help you out with house expenses

or whatever you need.

- Do you really think that selling the boat's

the way to get the store back on track.

How much do you think you're gonna get for it anyway?

It's not exactly a super yacht.

- It's a good boat.

Plus my fishing license alone, it's worth a lot.

- Keep the boat.

At least you have something to show for it.

Don't be an idiot.

- No, I think I liked it better when I couldn't hear you.

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle upbeat music)

Ah, ah this is nice little ramp, eh?

- This place is really old.

They used to launch big oceangoing canoes off here.

- Really?

It's amazing.

Okay, here? - Yeah.

- Thanks.

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle upbeat music)

- [Dave Voiceover] Whenever you are in a place

where our ancestors once walk,

you can really feel the power that still lives there.

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle upbeat music)

- [Dave] Do you remember what this is?

- It's a wild blueberry.

(Dave laughing)

- Your name comes from your auntie in Bella Bella.

We're all connected, all our communities.

She gave that name to you and your mom to share, remember?

- I know.

- Well tell them that one day you will pick blueberries

on that very beach where your name comes from.

- Uncle Bear,

I thought I was gonna feel something.

I don't know what I'm supposed to see, I'm sorry.

(gentle music)

(birds chirping)

Land ho.

- Like, I gotta give Mo a call and see how she's making out.

I think we should split up

so we're not setting up camp in the dark.

- Ooh, can I come with you?

- She wants to know if she can come with you.

- Yeah, sure, knock yourself out, kid.

Alex, you and your mom set up camp, yeah.

- Sure.

Hey Ella, you remember where camp is?

- Duh.

- Nice to be on land for a little bit.

- Hey, get me a cheeseburger, I'm starving.

- Oh yeah, I'm all over it.

Thinks I'm her chauffeur and now I'm a waiter, geez.

I just gotta check my messages.

- Do you want anything?

I'm gonna get those jujubes that uncle Bear used to love.

- Yeah, whatever kid, knock yourself out.

Hey Mo, it's me.

Yeah, well, they haven't given up yet.

It won't be long though.

(Don laughing)

Okay, how's it going there?

You found a buyer for the shop?

(Don laughing)

Oh, that guy.

Yeah, no, he wants me to sell it to him for a loss.

Well, because it's stupid.

I'm not losing.

Look, you just wanna piss Dave's money away just like that?

Well, I'm not losing the business and the money.

Find another buyer.

- Oh my God, oh my God.

Hurry, hurry, hurry.

- Okay, okay, slow down, geez.

(Alex laughing)

I told you not to eat those oysters.

(Alex laughing)

Oh my god, mom.

Oh geez.

- I pooped myself.

I pooped myself.

That doesn't feel good.

(birds chirping)

- How are you doing?

Warm enough?

- Whoo, am I ever with this awesome,

super absorbent camping towel?

- I guess I'll get the tent ready then.

- So what's it like staying at the store.

Is it totally gross?

- I don't know.

It's not bad.

Kind of like it.

- Well, you know that you can come home

whenever you want, anytime.

- Well, unless you're moving to Klemtu,

it's not really my plans.

- Plans can change though.

- No, they, they can't.

I mean, you said I'd lived down south for one year

and then I could go do what I want.

- Just wish that your plans weren't to be so far away.

- I'm going home, mom.

- Home's wherever you want it to be, Alex.

- No, it's not.

I don't belong in the city like you.

You know, I was raised in Klemtu.

Ever since you took me out there, I just,

I just miss it, okay.

Home isn't some dungy storage room

just because I sleep there.

- You just said that You like it there.

- Sometimes I just say things you want to hear.

(birds chirping)

- [John] What's up, campers?

- You guys snagged the good spot.

- An outdoorsman eh?

You wanna see something cool?

- Sure.

- I'm John.

That's Greg, my trusty guide.

He knows these forests like the back of his hand, eh Greg?

- Yep.

- You guys just out for a paddle?

- Yeah, something like that.

- John.

Hey, be cool man.

You don't have to show him.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Come here.

- [Greg] Don't show him, man.

- [John] No, he's gonna like this.

(gentle music)

- Oh God.

- [Cory] What?

- Hey man, I thought you were an outdoorsman.

- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Hey, what is it?

Hey, what is it?

- It, it's, it's a grizzly, they skinned it.

It's just, it's head and it's hide.

- Isn't that illegal?

- No, we have a license.

(birds chirping)

- Okay, honey, just take a deep breath,

keep unpacking okay.

(gentle music)

What'd you do that for?

- I thought he'd be into it.

- What?

No, I mean, the bear.

What, you just leave the meat in the woods?

- Hey now, look, I know what you're gonna say,

but we got the utmost respect for bears, okay.

I'm a licensed outfitter.

We are in the proper area.

It's legal, look it up.

- I don't care that it's legal, okay.

It's totally inhumane.

- I'm a good shot lady.

That bear ran not 20 feet before she went down.

I was right there.

- Let's go man.

- Yeah I guess.

Later neighbors.

Have a good night.

(gentle music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle music)

- It's okay, it's okay.

- I hate them so much.

(Alex crying)

- I know.

Hey, look at me.

(Alex crying)

You're okay.

Don't cry.

We don't cry.

(gentle music)

(waves crashing)

- Hey Blue Cheeseburgers

- [Don] And marshmallows.

- Got any wine in there?

- Ah, you wish.

- Burger me, I'm starved.

Thank you.

- How come you didn't start a fire.

- We got distracted by the birds.

- Birds, eh?

- Yeah.

(waves crashing)

Hey, you know what guys?

I think I'm gonna hit the hay too.

Thank you.

(waves crashing)

- Well, looks like I'm starting the fire.

- I'm gonna make marshmallows.

Want yours crispy?

- Black is my heart.

- Oh really?

(fire crackling)

(insects chirping)

(fire crackling)

(insects chirping)

(fire crackling)

Yeah.

(fire crackling)

(insects chirping)

(fire crackling)

No.

- What the heck are you doing?

- Here, close your eyes.

Open your mouth.

And whoa, wait, don't chew,

and don't swallow, just taste it.

- And?

- What color does it taste like?

- Green.

- Okay, check.

(both laughing)

Wrong.

That was an easy one.

- All right, well gimme another one.

- Okay.

(insects chirping)

(fire crackling)

(insects chirping)

You get it?

- Do I get what?

- Why these were Uncle Bear's favorite.

See, they don't taste good but they're fun.

- Hmm?

- You got it

- Purple.

- Okay.

(both laughing)

- [Don] Huh?

Okay, gimme another, gimme another one.

- Okay. - Ah.

Hmm.

Purple. - Yeah?

- Geez, it's like these fish think I have forever.

(Dave laughing)

- That's not funny.

- It's a little funny.

After I'm gone, I want you to know

that you always have a place with my family.

You can walk around Klemtu.

And anyone bugs you, you remind them

that I adopted you as my own.

You tell them that sometimes water is thicker than blood

and you're an ocean boy and you love this water

and these creatures

and these people as much as I do.

Remember, you can always go back to Klemtu okay.

I said so.

(gentle music)

(Alex crying)

(waves crashing)

- Uncle Bear, is this where I used to find the moss

that made my throat feel better when I got sick?

How is it that you used to find eagle feathers

and trade beads?

I can't even find a single berry.

(waves crashing)

I only want you to be in special places.

I don't know if this is it.

(waves crashing)

- [Don] Oh, come on, you're tough.

- Mm, coffee.

- What do you say, Alex, can we push off?

Last section that's protected before the open ocean,

you up for it?

- Yeah, what's a little open ocean got on us?

- [Don] Ella?

- Yeah, yeah.

- Let's pack it up.

- You want me to take something?

Oh, okay.

(waves crashing)

You okay?

- I'm fine.

(waves crashing)

- All aboard.

(Don laughing)

- Atta girl.

Love your attitude.

- Whoo-hoo.

- Oh yeah.

Oh yeah very funny.

- Oh, oh.

Ah. - I'm free.

- You're going the wrong way.

(gentle upbeat music)

- Hi.

- Hey.

Wow.

- Hey. - Holy smokes.

- That's amazing.

- Pretty awesome.

- Yeah, I've seen one before, go right under my kayak.

- Hey guys, I don't like the looks of this weather.

I think we should head back and wait for it to pass.

- No way, we'll be fine.

- We wait for it to pass.

It's not safe.

That's the bottom line.

- You know what guys, he's right.

It looks risky.

I'm scared.

- All right, let's back it up.

Ella.

- Fine.

(rain gushing)

- Oh my God, we shouldn't have come.

- It's not that bad.

- Are you crazy?

- It'll blow over.

- Yeah.

(rain gushing)

- Oh my God.

(rain gushing)

- What?

- This is not happening.

(gentle music)

(rain gushing)

(gentle music)

(rain gushing)

(gentle music)

(rain gushing)

(gentle music)

(rain gushing)

- Oh yeah.

Kayaking, adventure, yeah, it'd be great.

(gentle music)

(rain gushing)

(gentle music)

(rain gushing)

(gentle music)

(rain gushing)

(gentle music)

(rain gushing)

(gentle music)

(wind gushing)

(waves crashing)

(wind gushing)

(waves crashing)

(wind gushing)

- Oh, nice.

It's lifted.

(wind gushing)

Let's go.

- Too windy.

- Well, we can't just wait around anymore.

I'm gonna miss the whole hearing.

- Ella, be real, look at those waves.

- Oh, come on, I'll prove it.

- What are you doing?

Don.

(wind gushing)

Do something.

- Huh?

(wind gushing)

Ah, just let her go.

Maybe she needs to learn what too windy means.

- Maureen's gonna kill me if something happened to her.

- Ah, she'll get tired soon.

She'll come back.

(wind gushing)

(gentle music)

(wind gushing)

(gentle music)

(wind gushing)

(gentle music)

- Ella.

- Ah, those girls.

(dramatic music)

(wind gushing)

(dramatic music)

Ella.

Ella.

(dramatic music)

(wind gushing)

(dramatic music)

Oh no.

Dave.

No.

Dave.

(Cory screaming)

(dramatic music)

Don.

Don.

(dramatic music)

- Come on.

Come on, come on.

I got you.

- [Alex] What happened?

- Oh, nothing.

Decided to take an early swim, that's all.

We're fine.

- [Alex] Are you okay?

- Yeah, she's good.

She's good.

Just catch your breath over here.

- Hey Aunt Cory.

- Have a seat.

Alex got a blanket.

- Hey Aunt Cory, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, okay.

We're fine.

You're fine.

We all made it.

It's fine. - Here.

- I dropped him.

I dropped Dave.

- What?

What do you mean you dropped Dave?

- I tried to put him in my life jacket.

- [Alex] Oh mom.

- I was.

- What?

Why were you holding him?

- I don't know.

I just, he was in the,

I just panicked.

- So, so you lost all of him?

- Ella, take it easy.

It was an accident.

- No.

What about Uncle Bear?

Now he's just buried here.

Oh my God.

- I didn't mean to.

(gentle music)

(waves crashing)

(gentle music)

(waves crashing)

(gentle music)

- Oh geez.

Okay.

Oh.

All right.

You know what?

In a way, this is probably better.

Like, Uncle Bear probably would've been happy

it was mom who spread his ashes.

- She didn't spread them though.

She dropped them all at once, accidentally.

- Yeah, but isn't that the point?

I mean,

when he didn't have much longer,

Uncle Bear told me that this is what he wanted.

- You're making that up.

- No, for real.

He wanted to be part of the coast.

- Spreading his ashes was my idea.

I don't know everything

- Ella,

Dave told me lots and lots of things.

But he loved you the most.

(wind gushing)

- See,

see we use solar power to pump water over the oyster seeds.

And then when they're big enough,

they go back to the ocean in cages.

And there are no fossil fuels used at all.

It is totally sustainable.

Which is why I love it.

- Okay, just hold on.

Dave, look around, this place is a money pit.

- Don't do that.

I need this.

I need something that'll bring my family together.

You can get behind that, can't you?

(gentle music)

(waves crashing)

(gentle music)

(birds chirping)

- Look guys, whales.

Ella, whales. - "Ooh look at the whales.

"I spilled my husband.

"Look at the whales."

Oh, I can see them.

(all laughing)

- Oh wow.

Ella.

- Here.

- Thanks.

- So you two just not talking to each other

for the rest of the trip then?

It was an accident, Ella.

- Don't get in the middle, Alex.

- I'm not.

I'm just saying we're all in this right?

- He wasn't your uncle.

- I only lived with him half of my life.

Come on, it wasn't that big of a deal.

He would think this was hilarious.

- Save it for Miss. Oopsie Daisy

- Ella wasn't her fault.

- She dropped him.

Of course it's her fault.

- All right then be mad.

- What do you care, anyways?

You were blaming Uncle Bear for your money problems.

You just wanna sell your boat.

You don't care about the ashes,

you don't care about the hearing.

All you care about is yourself.

- Hey.

- I can see why Dave chose you to do his testimony.

You're just like him.

- Oh.

I take that as a compliment.

- Aha.

I just want you to know it's not your fault, Cory.

- I know it's not my fault.

This is all Dave's fault, not mine.

He's the one who inspired Ella

to go dumping his ashes in the water.

This is all what he wanted.

He had to go die and ruin everything.

(birds chirping)

And so he got a lovely burial at sea

and I hope he's god happy with it.

- So what then?

We still got a hearing to get to.

- I mean, you got a boat to sell in Klemtu?

- So what if I do?

My brother was nothing but amazing to you

and to anyone who's ever met him.

But he was a shit businessman.

I mean, it's gonna take me years

to dig out of the mess that he made.

Even if I do sell the store.

- Don, why didn't you tell us

that you were in that much trouble?

- You were a little burdened at the time.

And your husband just died.

- Yeah, that.

- So what do you say we got Ella to this hearing?

I mean, it was his dying wish and all that, geez.

All right?

- All right.

- Here, let me in there.

- Thank you.

- Wait, I'm not gonna ride in that with her.

- Oh, you two, you got some crap to work out.

- And you think we're gonna do it in the divorce boat?

- Or die trying.

(gentle upbeat music)

- You disturber.

(both laughing)

- [Don] Come on, I'll race you.

- [Alex] Oh, you're on.

(gentle upbeat music)

- I can't believe you lost Dave and the paddle.

- I was trying to look after you.

- I didn't ask you to.

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle upbeat music)

(water gushing)

(birds chirping)

(sings in foreign language)

(gentle music)

(sings in foreign language)

(gentle music)

(fire crackling)

(sings in foreign language)

(gentle music)

(sings in foreign language)

(gentle music)

(sings in foreign language)

(Cory gasping)

What?

- Nothing.

(gentle upbeat music)

(seals barking)

Oh my God, look at the seals.

Hi seals.

- They're sea lions.

Stellar sea lions.

- Oh yeah.

These little rascals are part of your testimony, right?

I remember hearing you and Dave practicing

talking about how the tankers coming through

and dwindle the population.

They're so beautiful.

That's the coolest thing I've ever seen.

(gentle upbeat music)

(Don moaning)

- Oh, come on.

You gotta do that right here?

- Sorry, but the little boys' room is occupied.

- Couldn't you just go behind the tent?

I mean, it's right there.

- What and miss this beautiful sunset?

- Don't you mean the moonrise?

(all laughing)

- You wish girls, you wish.

- Ew. - Ew.

- Oh God.

- Good to see you two laughing for a change.

- [Alex] They're laughing at you.

- [Don] Good thing I didn't go commando.

(all laughing)

- Don. - Oh God.

Oh my God.

(speaks in foreign language)

- [Alex] Come on Don.

- What are you doing?

- [Don] Gonna go seal wrestling.

- [Ella] Whoo, go Don.

(gentle music)

- [Alex] How's the water?

- Come on in, it's warm.

- [Dave Voiceover] We used to strip cedar bark

to make everything we needed.

The forest saved us.

Now we look for trees that were stripped long ago

so we can save the forests.

They can't log in a place where there are trees like that

because they're markers.

They mark our existence here from before contact.

So if you find a tree like that,

you'll know your people stood there before you.

That tree is a part of you.

- How are we doing for time, Don?

- Well there I thought we'd make it all the way,

but we just had too many setbacks,

and that bloody tandem.

- Ella's gonna kill me if we don't make it.

We gotta at least try.

- I don't see how we can do it

without getting some horsepower underneath us.

- I mean, surely it's faster if you or Alex

paddles the tandem with Ella in front

- And what, you paddle solo?

- Yeah, why not?

(Don laughing)

- Oh, you're serious.

- It's all my fault.

Slowed everyone down.

- There's nothing that we can do about it now.

- How come you never remarried, Don?

And Dean, he must be what?

17 now.

You really need to see him when we get to Klemtu.

Don't wait too long to make up with your son, Don.

- You wanna talk parenting, Cor?

Your kid's living in my shop?

- Touche.

(gentle upbeat music)

Ella, take the solo.

- Oh, thank God.

- Yeah, yeah.

- I'm just saying.

- Alex, what'd you do me the honors?

Oh, come on.

Okay guys, from now on we're gonna call this the fun boat.

Okay, Alex, would you take the fun boat with me please?

- Yes fun boat, got it.

(gentle upbeat music)

- Got it, thank you.

See.

- Yeah. - The fun boat.

- We're having fun already.

- Whoo.

(Cory laughing)

(gentle music)

(insects chirping)

- Uncle Don.

- Huh?

- What made you decide to come on this trip?

And don't say that it was

'cause you thought we couldn't do this alone

'cause we're nailing this.

(Don laughing)

- I don't know.

I saw what kind of Uncle Dave was to you

and how you're honoring him.

Just made me think of my son,

he certainly wouldn't do any of this for me

and I wouldn't blame him.

(birds chirping)

Anyways, we should get going.

(gentle music)

- Oh, hey look, we aren't the only crazy ones out here.

- Yeah, last time I was out here,

there were loads more people.

- Was that with Dave?

- Yeah.

Just before he got diagnosed.

(gentle music)

- How are you doing with all that?

- You asking me this now?

(gentle music)

- Guess, guess I'm not very good at this.

- That's fine, mom.

We don't cry, remember?

Anyways, I'm doing fine at the shop.

Soon enough we'll be moving back up to Klemtu, so.

- Yeah, I've been thinking about that.

I think that that was a great plan

to get you through high school.

But we should start looking at universities now.

- Mom, this was always the plan.

- I know that was the plan,

but Alex, I'm just thinking more clearly now

and I don't see how that plan makes sense.

Especially now that our connection to Klemtu is gone.

- I'm a connection to Klemtu.

I keep telling you, I just wanna go back.

I just wanna go home.

I can help Don on his boat.

Maybe he won't have to sell Dave's oyster shop.

I'm not just thinking of myself here.

- Look, we all need a reality check.

The oyster shop thing, it's not working.

God, I told Dave not to throw his money into that place.

And I told him, I knew it would fail.

- So what are you saying,

I should be afraid of failure?

- No.

- It sure sounds like it.

- Alex.

Alex.

(gentle music)

(insects chirping)

(gentle music)

Alex.

(Alex moaning)

- Hey look

a tail feather.

- Wow.

- Hey, do me a favor.

- Yeah.

- Look after your mom when I'm gone.

(gentle music)

See where it's split here,

you can put it back together.

It's healed it's whole.

(gentle music)

(birds chirping)

(Alex gasping)

(gentle music)

- [Ella] Look, I know we're not gonna make it.

- Tell you the truth,

didn't think you'd make it this far.

Can't give up now kid.

Gotta dig deep.

Dig deep.

(birds chirping)

All right my people, let's dig deep.

Klemtu, here we come.

Dig, dig.

(gentle upbeat music)

(Ella laughing)

- [Ella] You're working hard there Alex.

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle upbeat music)

(Don moaning)

- We don't have time for a break, we're almost there.

- We'll just take a short break and then,

then we head into town and get a hot meal.

What do you say guys?

- No, we can't just go visiting in Bella Bella,

we're almost at the hearing.

(Don moaning)

- You okay Don?

- Yeah, no, I'm good.

I just, I just need to take a break for a bit.

(Don moaning)

- Don, are you having chest pains?

- No, no, it's just a little heartburn.

I just gotta,

just gotta take my spray thingy and then I'll be good to go.

Don't worry about it.

- Your spray thing?

Don, do you have a heart condition?

- It's no biggie okay.

I got a little angina, I take my spray and I'm fine.

Hey Alex, you wanna get my kit from the kayak?

- Jesus.

You never should have come on this trip.

- Well, I did say no, if you recall.

I'll be fine.

(Don moaning)

- [Alex] Here Don.

- Just.

Good kid.

A little slow but good kid.

- Look, maybe we can still make it.

- Hearing's tomorrow, we'll never make up.

- Dude, I know it sucks, but Uncle Don's gotta rest.

- I know that.

I know a lot of things, okay.

Just like you.

Like I know that I'm just a city kid.

And I know that I don't have

what Uncle Bear tried to passed down.

- Hey, come on.

You know what I like most about the people on the coast?

Their willingness to help each other.

It's what's so great

about coming from a place like Klemtu.

You can ask for help and you'll actually get it.

And that's exactly what you did here.

You know, you brought us all together.

(gentle music)

He'd be proud of that.

This whole trip was a success, Ella.

- This was not a success.

This was me failing at the most important thing

that I've ever had to do.

(gentle music)

(fire crackling)

(gentle music)

(birds chirping)

(zipper opening)

- [Dave Voiceover] Your name comes from Bella Bella.

We're all connected, all our communities.

One day you'll pick blueberries on that berry beach

where your name comes from.

- Oh my God, a trade bead.

I just need a little help.

(gentle upbeat music)

(Ella panting)

(gentle upbeat music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle upbeat music)

- Hey, hey, there she is.

And she got a boat.

(boat engine revving)

- Hi.

(gentle upbeat music)

(boat engine revving)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

- I want you to sing that at my funeral okay.

- I won't be able to.

I'll be too sad.

And I'll never sing again.

(gentle music)

- You'll sing, my girl.

- How do you know?

- Because your Aunt Cory and your mom

are horrible singers.

- I'm serious.

- You'll see, you'll sing.

(gentle music)

(Ella crying)

(boat engine revving)

(gentle upbeat music)

(boat engine revving)

(gentle upbeat music)

(boat engine revving)

♪ I don't love you

♪ I told you

♪ I

♪ Would be dead to you

(gentle upbeat music)

♪ This fire been burning

(singer vocalizing)

(gentle upbeat music)

- We made it.

♪ That's all I want

(gentle upbeat music)

(singer vocalizing)

(gentle upbeat music)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

- They're singing for us.

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

Mom.

- Oh.

I missed you.

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

I knew you'd cry eventually.

- Will it ever stop?

- Yeah it will.

Here, I brought this to put the last of his ashes in.

- Oh, actually.

- You saved something to Barry here, didn't you?

- Here.

(all laughing)

- Okay.

- [Don] Look after the chief for me.

- Let's go to the hearing.

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

(drum beating)

(sings in foreign language)

- Sorry.

- Sorry.

- Hello, hau.

My English name is Ella Ellis,

niece of the late David Ellis,

who was to speak before you today.

He passed on to me the responsibility

of sharing with the jury panel,

for he passed away earlier this year.

It is my honor to be here in his place.

I wish to share with you some evidence,

born of my traditional knowledge

and firsthand experience with these waters.

I have spent the last month paddling 500 kilometers

in these waters in a kayak,

and I will tell you that should tankers

pass through these waters, the threat of a spill

is not only a potential, it is a certainty.

The only unknown is how long would we have to wait

and how many times would it happen?

There are many things that threaten our way of life

on this coast.

We are a fishing culture, we subsist on the sea.

Our people have inhabited these waters for millennia,

a documented 14,000 years.

But we know from our oral history

that we have been here since creation.

We are not the only ones who have survived

despite attempts at extermination

in this territory in millennia.

This is the only place on earth

where you can see a spirit bear.

Yet bear and wolf habitat are not respected

in a world where oil tankers would destroy estuaries

and spawning grounds that bears and wolves need to survive.

(gentle music)

I had many things that my uncle wanted me to share with you

from his vast knowledge of our territory.

But I'm not gonna do that.

I'm not gonna do that because I am just a kid

who grew up in the city.

But I'm proud that I come from here.

My traditional name is Sisi-kwaka.

It means that traditional way

that women would pick blueberries.

I thought that I would live up to my name

and live off the land, but I didn't find a single berry.

I did find this trade bead.

It tells me I stand where my ancestors once stood.

And it reminds me that my future and time itself

are in the direct path

of where the proposed tanker route lies.

It would only take one moment and one oil spill

to take away my chance to know my territory

the way that my uncles do.

I was in a hurry to get here, but I need a lifetime.

An oil spill on the inside passage

of the Great Bear Rainforest

would disturb the final resting place

of my late uncle David Ellis,

who has been laid to rest at sea.

His remains would have by now spread

and the entire length of these waters

from Tla'amin to Klemtu are his final resting place.

Together, my family and I let him go in these waters.

It is illegal to deface a burial ground.

It is immoral to destroy a culture.

Families like mine depend on these waters

and the world depends on the sanctity

of the Great Bear Rainforest

in ways we are only beginning to understand.

You cannot put tankers in the inside passage.

(boat knocking)

- Boat looks great.

Thanks for taking care of her.

I'll just.

(birds chirping)

Thanks my boy.

Sure you don't want to come along?

- No, I gotta get back to work.

- Yeah, sure.

- You taking off already?

- No.

Why don't you come by Aunt Marian's, we'll have dinner?

- See ya.

(birds chirping)

- Mo, sell the shop, get what you can for it.

I'm keeping the boat.

(boat engine revving)

(insects chirping)

- Oh.

- This is what we came all this way for.

- Yes.

- Exactly. - It feels so weird

to be back.

- Oh, I'm just glad you guys made it safely.

- Oh my God. - Fabulous.

- I'm so hungry.

- [Don] Just like our Aunt Marian used to make eh?

- Yeah. - Mm.

- Mm.

- Eat some salmon. - Hmm-mm.

Pretty uneventful trip though, to say, eh?

We were like the perfect family out there right.

(all laughing)

I just wanna say,

you done us proud my girl.

Done us proud.

(speaks in foreign language)

- Oh, that was the best meal I've had since I left here.

- Did you try the Ooligan grease?

- That's the thing I missed most.

- Atta boy.

(both laughing)

You know, I'm gonna need a hand up here handling my boat.

So, if you're looking for a job.

- Can I think about it?

- I thought you said you wanted to stay up here.

- I just, I think I gotta go home first.

Like, my other home, you know.

- Of course you do.

(wall knocking)

- Hey dad.

(gentle music)

(birds chirping)

(gentle music)

- Wait.

Stop.

I brought you home, Uncle Bear.

(gentle music)

(Cory crying)

(gentle music)

(all crying)

(gentle music)

(birds chirping)

(Cory crying)

(gentle music)

(birds chirping)

(Cory crying)

(water gushing)

(gentle music)

(Cory laughing)

(gentle music)

(birds chirping)

(sings in foreign language)

(gentle music)

(sings in foreign language)

(gentle music)

(sings in foreign language)