‘Bad River’ is a remarkable film directed by Mary Mazzio and set in the current decade. Narrated by Quannah ChasingHorse and Ed Norton, and contributed to by a team of Indigenous contributors like Mato Wayuhi and Taylor Hensel, the film presents a critical examination of the cultural and historical exploitation of Indigenous people. The film focuses on the Bad River Band, an Ojibwe tribe residing along Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin. The storyline revolves around the cultural, environmental, and historical injustices faced by Indigenous people, juxtaposing popular media representation with actual struggles for autonomy.
Central to the plot is the controversy surrounding the Line 5 Pipeline, situated within Bad River lands and owned by a corporation called Enbridge. The discovery of an eroding pipeline sparks off a conflict, catalyzing efforts to remove it. Nevertheless, Mazzio's aim isn't confined to exposing this single saga. Instead, she leverages local interviews to throw light on multiple tales of struggle, all the while underlining the importance of returning to tradition, resilience, and resistance. Although sometimes drifting from the film's primary 'David-and-Goliath' storyline and being occasionally history-heavy, 'Bad River' excels in its panoramic exploration of key episodes, such as the Dawes Act and the Indian Relocation Act, and the systemic erasure of Indigenous identities. The power of 'Bad River' lies in its ability to strike a balance between highlighting the numerous hardships faced by Indigenous communities and celebrating their untiring resolve and pride. The film insists on making heard the multitude of stories that have long awaited their narration.
