Join the Indigenous Film Collective for a free screening of the documentary, If An Owl Calls Your Name (2025), commemorating National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Editor-producer Finley MacNeil will join for a post-screening discussion and Q&A.
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue
This event is open to all members of the U of T community and the general public.
"We know through sacred ceremony the reconciliation is already done."
In If An Owl Calls Your Name, Patricia June Vickers, her brother Roy Henry Vickers, along with other Indigenous Elders, healers, and activists from Esk’etemc, Gitxsan, and Wet’suwet’en territories reflect upon their lives as forcefully assimilated Canadians. The effects of intergenerational trauma echo through the voices of residential school survivors and their children as they heal from substance abuse, violence, and a profound disconnect from their culture. Through connection to land, ancestral wisdom, and ceremonial healing they transform darkness into forgiveness and inner reconciliation. A prayer beyond religion; these stories call one into a universal yearning for belonging and the sacredness of life.
Please note: This film may depict sensitive and potentially distressing content. The film explores the traumatic experiences of Indigenous peoples experiences with racism; descriptions of child abuse, residential school trauma, and genocide. These portrayals may be triggering for some viewers.
- 6:15pm – Light Refreshments, Check-In
- 6:30pm – Doors Open
- 6:45pm – Opening Remarks
- 7–8:35pm – Film Screening
- 8:35pm – Closing Discussion, Audience Giveaway
- 9pm – Event Ends
Please be aware that smudging, which involves burning sacred herbs such as sage or sweetgrass, may be present during this event. We acknowledge that some participants may have smoke allergies or sensitivities to scent. If you are affected by such conditions or need any other accessibility accommodations, please let us know so we can accommodate your needs. We are committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive learning environment for all participants.
Finley MacNeil is a film and television editor, producer, and director from Toronto, Canada. Having cut thousands of commercial spots by the age of seventeen and his first feature at eighteen, Finley practically grew up in a post-house. Working with countless producers in Canada, the US, and Europe, Finley has amassed innumerable credits at a very young age. His most recent works include: The Eternal Song, Where Olive Trees Weep, and The Case Against Cosby.
Billy is a recipient of the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt, the highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of Manitoba. The Order of the Buffalo Hunt was founded in 1957 to recognize the outstanding and distinctive contributions of leaders in areas such as politics, business, sports, and entertainment.