🔗 Share this article

To Cree astronomer Wilfred Buck, the stars hold an profound significance that extends beyond the realm of science. Hailing from an Indigenous group whose narratives have been deliberately effaced by official narratives, he looks to these grouped dots of light as both record of the past and spiritual manifestation. Echoing Buck's comprehensive approach to stargazing, Lisa Jackson's hybrid film draws from a variety of eclectic cinematic techniques, all woven into a stunning depiction of a formidable tribal leader.

An Existence in Motion

Someone always on the go, Buck is frequently seen driving, traveling from one engagement to another. Speaking at scholarly gatherings and workshops, and leading talks and discussions for youth, he not only makes astronomy accessible but also builds lasting relationships between different generations. This sense of unity is especially touching considering Buck's own heartbreaking family history. He was separated from his brothers and sisters in his youth, after they were taken away from their parents by the state. His childhood was gripped by a pattern of substance abuse, poverty and despair.

Cinematic Storytelling and Legacy

The documentary depicts these periods from his early life through artistic, evocative dramatizations shot on rich 16mm footage. Guided by Buck's narration, these are images imbued with longing and sadness; the shifts between history and present are seamlessly done, adding a hint of poetry to an astonishing life story. His tireless work to preserve Indigenous tradition and wisdom have laid important community foundations that were previously forbidden. Shifting between the sky and the ground, from the personal to the communal, the director's sweeping documentary conjures a universe of encounters with striking style and insights.