KaYaMenTa, Sharing Truths about Menopause
An Indigenous Resurgence Film Screening & Conversation.
The office of Indigenous Resurgence is hosting a screening of KaYaMenTa (external link) followed by a conversation with Director Jules Koostachin (external link) , moderated by Lynn Lavallee. The film, about Indigenous sisterhood, brings together resilient women to have a candid conversation about menopause, women, and their lives and relationships. The screening and conversation will take place on November 20th from 4 pm EST to 5:30 pm.
“We are very excited to have her join us for this event. Jules is fierce,” said Lavalee. “I count myself among the large audience for her work that appreciates she speaks ‘TRUTH before reconciliation.’ This is prominent and recurring throughout her body of work in both print and film. She brings to life the realities of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island. There is also an artistry in the way in which Jules brings humour to the forefront in her work.”
Residing in Vancouver Koostachin (external link) is currently a PhD candidate with GRSJ at the University of British Columbia. She completed her masters at Ryerson University in Documentary Media with the Award of Distinction and the Graduate Ryerson Gold Medal for the highest academic achievement. Born in Moose Factory Ontario, Jules was raised by her Cree speaking grandparents in Moosonee, and also with her mother in Ottawa, a warrior of the Canadian Residential school system. Jules is a band member of Attawapiskat First Nation, the Ancestral lands of the MoshKeKo InNiNeWak.
Jules’ company VisJuelles Productions Inc. has a number of films and other media works in development. Her television series AskiBOYZ (2016) co-produced with Big Soul Production is currently being aired on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). In 2017, she released her documentary NiiSoTeWak: Two Bodies, One Heart and her second CBC short OshKiKiShiKaw: A New Day was released in the spring of 2019. Her third documentary, which we are screening, KaYaMenTa: Sharing Truths about Menopause was released in the summer of 2020. Over the years, she has released a number of other films/projects.
In addition to her film work her first book of poetry Unearthing Secrets, Gathering Truths (2018) was published with Kegedonce Press, as well as her memoir Moccasin Souls (2020). She carries extensive knowledge working in the Indigenous communities in several different capacities and these community experiences continue to feed her advocacy and her arts practice.