SEDNA, EMPRESS OF THE SEA

SEDNA'S STORY
Based on one of the most compelling indigenous legends of all time, SEDNA, EMPRESS OF THE SEA is the story of a courageous young Inuit girl, who kidnapped by an evil raven, escapes by kayak only to end up at the bottom of the ocean where she becomes the ruler of the sea. Inspired by a story the Directors grandmother told him as a young boy, the film uses a light-hearted musical as a vessel to introduce children to the concept of residential schools and their impact on indigenous people.
EMPRESS OF THE SEA
Cast out upon the open seas
We locked away our memories
While the Khul-loo-knot children went out to play
We laboured in fields stacking bushels of hay
While they stuffed their faces with the sweetest treat
We grovelled in dirt for morsels to eat
Where once our mothers would rock us to sleep
We now cowered in darkness and tried not to weep
Fathers, toads, tricksters and queens
Wrestled like demons inside of our dreams

Then it happened…

As we huddled together for a cold, sleepless night
Out of the darkness came a flickering light
Not like the sun, fire or flame
But the voice of a child with a seaworthy name
Sedna, Empress of the Sea
Told us the story
How she came to be…

– Jerry Thevenet
A STORY
OF HOPE
AND RESILIENCE
CREATORS

JERRY THEVENET
INDIGENOUS WRITER, DIRECTOR and PRODUCER
Born in NunatuKavut, of both European and indigenous descent, Jerry has always had a profound interest in his indigenous heritage. In 2004, after 15 years as a graphic artist, Jerry decided to pursue his lifelong ambition and launched JERRYCO ANIMATION, North America’s first indigenous owned and operated animation studio.

Since then he has written, directed and produced over 250 episodes of indigenous television. Committed to the preservation of indigenous languages and cultures, all of Jerry’s productions feature indigenous characters, settings and languages.
GENESIS
When my grandmother was a little girl she was sent away to residential school to learn how to read and write, but mostly to do laundry and clean houses. The people who ran these institutions were not very kind and seemed to enjoy punishing the children whenever they had a chance. Needless to say, the children suffered greatly. The only escape from their tormentors came at night.

After being locked in their dormitories the children would gather in the darkness and tell each other stories using puppets made of pieces of string and discarded objects they’d found. These cheerful stories would provide a moment of respite from the hardships of life in these institutions. One of these inspirational tales was the legend of SEDNA, EMPRESS OF THE SEA. When I was a boy my grandmother told me this story that had meant so much to her…

This is how I remember it…

Jerry
UNIVERSE

A story of family
A story of survival
A story of inclusion
A story of determination
COMPOSER +

PAUL BARAKA
COMPOSER, SOUND DESIGNER and VISIONARY
Earthly elements, astrophysics and related fields are the sources of Paul Baraka’s passions and catalysts for this growth as a musician and a multimedia artist. The rich sounds of his compositions and performances reflect a broad musical spirit and a penchant for exploration. The result is an expression of thought and emotion that will move you.

A true friend to indigenous people, Paul has dedicated his career to preserving and revitalizing indigenous languages and cultures in Canada and around the world. With that in mind, Paul has created an emotionally powerful score, rich in indigenous culture, sound, music and meaning, “Not one note or sound is put there by chance, everything has a meaning.” A truly multi-talented artist, In addition to providing the sound and music, Paul provided all of the visual effects for the film!
GALLERY
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