UPDATE: The April 2023 launch of 10,000 Gifts was a huge success, with over 300 people attending the Cowichan Arts Centre. While we wait for this documentary to be released onto the Telus Storyhive Network, here are two short documentaries, also by Arianna and Matt, both produced for the Cowichan Valley School District: Our Journey Beyond Education and Hiihwuwul'stuhw tu. Hul'q'umi'num' - Bringing the Hul'q'umi'num' to life.

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ORIGINAL POST: 10,000 Gifts is a story about a small Cowichan Valley School trying to reimagine what school can be. With well over 10,000 years of ancestry in the valley, Quw'utsun elders walk alongside the students and staff of Q’shintul (Mill Bay Nature School) guiding and demonstrating the humility and courage required for reconciliAction.

Shot by Arianna Augustine (one of our Steering Committee members) and Matt Gladman - creative and life partners in Keywork Productions, this 45-minute documentary was screened for the first time at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Trailer below.

The documentary is made possible with the support of StoryHive - an initiative Telus has been running since 2013 to amplify local stories and voices from creators and community members based in BC and Alberta. StoryHive provides grants to make projects, and also accepts submissions of completed projects for screening on Optik TV on-demand Community Showcase program. 10,000 Gifts will premiere for free on Optik TV on-demand in the Fall of 2023.

Oliver Luke Delorie, a local artist we got to know through our ArtCoach offerings, also received a StoryHive grant last year, and his documentary series about the artists on Gabriola Island can be viewed here. Know any other Vancouver Island or rural Islands artists who have been supported by StoryHive? Let us know. And be sure to join our mailing list at the bottom of this page to stay up to date on more goings on in our arts ecosystem.