National Indigenous History Month collection now streaming with documentaries and films honouring the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, including Alanis Obomsawin’s JORDAN RIVER ANDERSON: THE MESSENGER and OUR PEOPLE WILL BE HEALED; Inuktitut-language Canadian drama MALIGLUTIT (SEARCHERS), TIFF Best Canadian Feature Film nominee ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF NOAH PIUGATTUK and SGGAAWAAY K’UUNA (EDGE OF THE KNIFE), the first feature film made entirely in the Haida language
CBC Gem celebrates Pride with a collection of titles launching throughout June, including: DEEP IN VOGUE (May 28) a documentary about ballroom/voguing culture in the UK, ANNE+ (June 1) a Dutch drama following Anne as she stumbles towards adulthood, Canadian short animated film I LIKE GIRLS (June 11) and the return of two deaf best friends in THIS CLOSE SEASON 2 (June 4)
New international series include Danish thriller DNA(June 4), the story of a police detective’s life that’s upended when a new case may help him find his own missing daughter, British drama CALL THE MIDWIFE SEASON 7 (June 4), and Australian comedy-drama BUMP (June 18)
Live 50th Annual JUNO Week streams of virtual events, including CBC MUSIC IN STUDIO AT THE JUNOS: THE CLASSICAL SESSION (May 30), THE BLOCK SESSION (June 1), THE JAZZ SESSION (June 2), RECLAIMED SESSION (June 3) and CBC Q LIVE featuring an exclusive interview with The Tragically Hip (May 31)
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NATIONAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH COLLECTION
New Feature Films
- MALIGLUTIT (SEARCHERS) (1×90, Drama, directed by Zacharius Kunuk & Natar Ungalaaq, Canada, 2016)
Streaming now
Nunavut, circa 1913. Kuanana returns from a caribou hunt to discover his wife and daughter kidnapped, and the rest of his family slaughtered. His father’s spirit helper, the loon Kallulik, sets him on course to overturn fate and reunite his family. The Inuktitut-language film was shot in Nunavut with an entirely Inuit cast, and with contributions from a local crew.
- ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF NOAH PIUGATTUK (1×90, Drama, directed by Zacharius Kunuk, Canada, 2019)
Streaming now
ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF NOAH PIUGATTUK hinges on a pivotal 1961 encounter on spring sea ice between the title character Noah (Apayata Kotierk) and other community leaders and a government emissary (Kim Bodnia), who has come to ask them to relocate their families to permanent settlements and send their children to school. Those demands will ultimately carry an enormous gravitas. Behind what seems to the hunters to be the government agent’s incoherent requests is a policy that will mean a fundamental rupture in the lives of Inuit.
- SGGAAWAAY K’UUNA (EDGE OF THE KNIFE) (1×90, Drama, co-directed by Gwaai Edenshaw and Helen Haig-Brown, Canada, 2018)
Streaming now
SGGAAWAAY K’UUNA (EDGE OF THE KNIFE) makes history as the first film made entirely in the Haida-language. Despite being nearly lost to the terrible consequences of disease, residential schools, the church and government intervention, there are currently less than 60 fluent speakers of Haida, many over the age of 70. On the islands of Haida Gwaii, two extended families reunite at their annual summer fishing camp. Soon conflict between a charismatic young man, Adiits’ii (Tyler York), and his best friend Kwa (Willy Russ), begins to tear their interwoven families apart. When Adiits’ii’s recklessness and arrogance result in a tragic incident, he flees into the rainforest abandoning his family and way of life.
New Documentaries
- RED CHEF REVIVAL (6×30, Documentary, Black Rhino Creative, Canada, 2019)
Streaming now
Directed by Danny Berish (Estranged), RED CHEF REVIVAL documents how Indigenous cuisine is being reclaimed and re-invented by a new guard of chefs. Follow New York Times-featured Cezin Nottaway, Top Chef finalist Rich Francis and Chopped finalist Shane Chartrand as they discover their people’s story on a plate.
- PANDEMIC: AT THE END OF THE WORLD (1×13, Documentary, directed by Allan Code, Canada, 2020)
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 1
The Covid pandemic strikes a tragically familiar chord for the Inuvialuit of the Mackenzie River Delta. In the early 19th century John Franklin and his crew infected their ancestors with deadly smallpox. Other devastating epidemics would follow. Historian Randal Pokiak returns to the ancient site of Kitigaaruk, a community abandoned after the great flu epidemic of 1918, to deliver a vivid cautionary tale.
- JORDAN RIVER ANDERSON: THE MESSENGER (1×65, Documentary, directed by Alanis Obomsawin, Canada, 2019)
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 1
From Alanis Obomsawin (When All The Leaves Are Gone), this film tells the story of how the life of Jordan River Anderson initiated a battle for the right of First Nations and Inuit children to receive the same standard of social, health and educational services as the rest of the Canadian population.
- OUR PEOPLE WILL BE HEALED (1×97, Documentary, directed by Alanis Obomsawin, Canada, 2017)
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 1
OUR PEOPLE WILL BE HEALED, from Alanis Obomsawin (When All The Leaves Are Gone), reveals how a Cree community in Manitoba has been enriched through the power of education. The Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre in Norway House, north of Winnipeg, receives a level of funding that few other Indigenous institutions enjoy. Its teachers help their students to develop their abilities and their sense of pride.
- LOST MOCCASIN (1×12, Documentary, directed by Roger Boyer, Canada, 2017)
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 1
Following his journey back home, Bradford Bilodeau travels to talk with the last relative that has the knowledge of what happened during the time he and all of his siblings were taken from his home in the 60’s scoop. Official selection of ImagineNATIVE Film Festival 2018.
- KEEP GOING MY DAUGHTER (1×12, Documentary, directed by Candy Fox, Canada, 2019)
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 1
A young couple narrates a message to their young daughter that reflects the hopes and dreams of a new generation of Indigenous parents fighting to heal colonial trauma and raise the next generation. An official selection of Hot Docs 2019.
- WHEN THE CHILDREN LEFT (1×11, Documentary, directed by Charlene Moore, Canada, 2019)
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 1
Exploring the hardships of one woman’s journey as she travels home to pay homage to her sister, who had to leave her isolated community for basic education and never returned. An official selection of the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival 2019.
- AS THE SMOKE RISES (1×12, Documentary, directed by Sharon Heigl, Canada, 2019)
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 1
AS THE SMOKE RISES explores the significant role of the Indigenous ceremony of smudging. In the Indigenous culture, smudging is used to cleanse the mind, body and spirit, thereby releasing unwanted negative energy, and embracing new positive energy to restore natural balance. Viviane Rose Sandy, an Elder from the Williams Lake Band, expresses how smudging has had a positive impact in her everyday life and how it can help others. After being introduced to the practice for the first time since her childhood, she is “reborn” and able to reconnect spiritually with her culture and traditions.
- ÊMÎCÊTÔSÊT: MANY BLOODLINES (1×11, Documentary, directed by Theola Ross, Canada, 2019)
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 1
A Cree filmmaker and her white partner document their pregnancy and journey to parenthood. From the search for an Indigenous donor and midwife to their concerns about raising a child as an interracial queer couple, the joy of having a child together gives them the courage to overcome any obstacle. An official selection of Hot Docs 2020, where it was awarded the Betty Youson Award for Best Canadian Short Documentary.
PRIDE COLLECTION
- DEEP IN VOGUE (1×60, Documentary, directed by Amy Watson & Dennis Keighron-Foster, UK, 2019)
Streaming now
*Canadian Exclusive Premiere*
DEEP IN VOGUE celebrates the colourful, queer, emotional and political stories of Northern Vogue and its people. Synonymous with the Black, gay ballrooms of 1980s New York, this documentary explores themes including disenfranchisement of Black youth, LGBT issues, a shrinking welfare state and a lack of safe spaces for the truly different. DEEP IN VOGUE is about people coming to love and accept themselves.
- WOMAN ON FIRE (1×60, Documentary, Animal, USA, 2016)
Streaming now
From filmmaker Julie Sokolow (Barefoot: The Mark Baumer Story, Aspie Seeks Love) WOMAN ON FIRE follows Brooke, the first openly transgender firefighter in New York City, as she sets out to challenge perceptions of what it means to be transgender. This documentary premiered at DOC NYC where it was nominated for the Metropolis Grand Jury Prize.
- ANNE+ (3×30, Drama, Millstreet Films, Netherlands)
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 1
The weekend Anne (Hanna van Vliet, Oh Baby) moves into her own place she unexpectedly runs into her ex-girlfriend Lily (Eline van Gils, Thuisfront). Lily was her first girlfriend and a lot has happened since they broke up four years ago. Over the weekend, Anne reflects on the relationships she has had throughout her student years in Amsterdam, and we learn about Anne’s turbulent love life and how these diverse girls and various relationships have contributed to who she is today.
- I LIKE GIRLS (1×15, Documentary, directed by Diane Obomsawin, Canada, 2016)
Begins streaming Friday, June 11
In this animated short from Diane Obomsawin (Kaspar), four women reveal the nitty-gritty about their first loves, sharing funny and intimate tales of one-sided infatuation, mutual attraction, erotic moments, and fumbling attempts at sexual expression. For them, discovering that they’re attracted to other women comes hand-in-hand with a deeper understanding of their personal identity and a joyful new self-awareness.
- I AM SKYLAR (1×8, Documentary, directed by Rachel Bower, Canada, 2019)
Begins streaming Friday, June 11
I AM SKYLAR is the emotionally compelling story of an articulate 14-year-old girl who is thoughtfully defining her future and the woman she is to become. Surrounded by a family and a community who show her unconditional love as she follows her personal path, Skylar faces the complexities of being a transgender girl on the cusp of puberty with refreshing honesty and unshakeable dignity.
- THIS CLOSE Season 2 (8×30, Comedy, Super Deluxe, USA)
Begins streaming Friday, June 4
*Canadian Premiere*
Kate (Shoshannah Stern, Jericho) and Michael (Joshua Feldman, Fridays) are determined to reboot their friendship. Kate’s past returns to haunt her in surprising ways and Michael tries to walk the straight and narrow path. Kate and Michael are going to have to lean on each other, or fall apart.
JUNO WEEK LIVESTREAMS
- CBC MUSIC IN STUDIO AT THE JUNOS: THE CLASSICAL SESSION (1×60, CBC Music, Canada)
Streaming now
Julie Nesrallah hosts a one-hour recital of chamber music performed by a selection of nominees and winners from the 2020 and 2021 Juno Awards. Harpist Angela Schwartzkopf and flutist Kaili Maiments play pieces by Mark Nerenberg and Marjan Mozetich. Then violinist Jonathan Crow and pianist Angela Park take the stage for Beethoven’s “Spring” Sonata and the famous “Méditation” by Massenet.
- CBC MUSIC IN STUDIO AT THE JUNOS: CBC Q LIVE (1×60, CBC Music, Canada)
Streaming live Monday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Gord Sinclair, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay and Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip sit down with Q‘s Tom Power for an exclusive interview about their career, their long-lasting friendship, the 2021 JUNO Humanitarian Award and the loss of their friend and bandmate Gord Downie.
- CBC MUSIC IN STUDIO AT THE JUNOS: THE BLOCK SESSION (1×60, CBC Music, Canada)
Streaming live Tuesday, June 1 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Each weeknight on CBC Music, The Block travels musically across genres. Using hip hop as a central tenet, the show crosses many intersections within Black music from across the diaspora. For this special live Junos edition hosted by Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe, The Block celebrates Black musical achievement of the past, present and future with a selection of live performances from Michie Mee, Ammoye, Dijah SB, JRDN, Choclair and more.
- CBC MUSIC IN STUDIO AT THE JUNOS: THE JAZZ SESSION (1×60, CBC Music, Canada)
Streaming live Wednesday, June 2 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
This Junos jazz session features nine legendary musicians nominated in the three jazz categories at the 2021 Juno Awards. From traditional to vocal, from group to Latin, the showcase hosted by CBC Music’s Laila Biali has all the jazz stylings covered.
- CBC MUSIC IN STUDIO AT THE JUNOS: RECLAIMED SESSION (1×60, CBC Music, Canada)
Streaming live Thursday, June 3 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Connecting the generations and Indigenous nations across Turtle Island and beyond, this Reclaimed session features performances from this year’s Indigenous Juno Award nominees and the next wave in Native music. From Nunavut to Wiikwemkoong, Denendeh to Tkaronto, hosts Duncan McCue and Jarrett Martineau celebrate the sounds of Indigenous folk, roots, blues, powwow step and moccasin gaze.
- JUNO OPENING NIGHT AWARDS (PRESENTED BY MUSIC CANADA) (1×60, CBC Music, Canada)
Streaming live Friday, June 4 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Watch this virtual celebration hosted by Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe featuring the presentation of 37 2021 JUNO Awards, the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award, the MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award Presented by the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation and five performances you won’t want to miss!
- JUNO SONGWRITERS CIRCLE (PRESENTED BY SOCAN IN ASSOCIATION WITH MUSIC PUBLISHES CANADA) (1×60, CBC Music, Canada)
Streaming live Saturday, June 5 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Hosted by Jim Cuddy, and featuring Carole Pope (Rough Trade), Deborah Cox, Dan Hill and Leah and Peter from July Talk, CBC Music and the JUNO Awards’ perennially popular Songwriters’ Circle celebrates five decades of excellence in songwriting.
NEW INTERNATIONAL SERIES
- CALL THE MIDWIFE Season 7 (8×60, Drama, Neal Street Productions, UK)
Begins streaming Friday, June 4
The year is 1963, and the midwives find themselves tested both personally and professionally as never before. Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett, Kinky Boots) finds her authority questioned from an unexpected quarter, Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt, Girl with a Pearl Earring) is forced to accept her failing faculties, and the much-loved characters are joined by West Indian midwife Lucille Anderson (Leonie Elliott, Black Mirror). - DNA (8×45, Drama, Nordisk Films Production & French Kiss Pictures, Denmark & France)
Begins streaming Friday, June 4
*Canadian Exclusive Premiere*
Rolf Larsen (Anders W. Berthelsen, Italian For Beginners), a respected detective on the Copenhagen police force, investigates the case of a missing child. Then, his life is brutally upended when his own baby daughter goes missing. Five years after the disappearance, a new lead emerges when a serious flaw is uncovered in the Danish police’s DNA database. Realizing that his daughter may still be alive, Rolf tries to find out what really happened to her by investigating a parallel case linked to an international child trafficking ring.
- BUMP (10×30, Comedy, Roadshow Rough Diamond, Australia)
Begins streaming Friday, June 18
*Canadian Exclusive Premiere*
Created by Claudia Karvan (Doctor Doctor, Spirited), Bump is a half-hour comedy drama about an ambitious teenage girl, a surprise baby and the complications that ensue for two families. Set in and around a high school in inner Sydney and following the main characters home, Bump explores unwanted motherhood, unwelcome new relatives, and unintended consequences.
- JAPAN WITH SUE PERKINS (2×50, Documentary, BBC, UK, 2019)
Begins streaming Friday, June 25
Sue Perkins (The Great British Bakeoff) explores Japan, a country caught between ancient tradition and dazzling technology. It’s often described as a futuristic country and technological mecca. But, Japan is also steeped in tradition. Sue visits Tokyo, with its neon digital displays, thronging population and bullet-fast trains. She travels to the mountainous villages, and meets the artisans finding new ways to preserve ancient traditions. The rift between age-old traditions and new-age technology is widening, as the country strives to honour its past — and embrace the future.
DOCUMENTARIES
- BLUEBIRD (1×90, Documentary, Riverside Entertainment, USA, 2019)
Begins streaming Friday, June 4
From its inception, The Bluebird Cafe has been anything but ordinary. It’s where megastars like Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and Taylor Swift got their break, and where emerging singer-songwriters continue to flock for a chance to perform original material. But this unassuming venue, nestled in a suburban Nashville strip-mall, faces an uncertain future. Featuring unforgettable performances by Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Maren Morris, Vince Gill, Jason Isbell and many more, we’ll explore the past and present of this accidental landmark that has altered the course of music history.
CBC KIDS
- GLOWBIES (26×11, Brain Power Studio, Canada)
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 1
Join Glowbies Jelly, Randy, Alby and Poppy on fun adventures around Brighthouse Bay. Their happy thoughts create the Glowbies special glow, and once they have enough glows, they can power up their lighthouse home and keep the community safe!
CANADIAN DRAMAS
- BLACKSTONE Season 4 (6×60, Prairie Dog Film & Television)
Begins streaming Friday, June 4
The fourth season follows the Blackstone First Nation as they try to rebuild their community after the fire. Manipulative and tormented Andy (Eric Schweig, The Last of the Moheicans) faces his demons in the Remand while trying to elude a murder charge. Leona (Carmen Moore, Rustic Oracle) searches for two missing youth when rumors arise they may be involved in an underground human trafficking circle in the city. Gail (Michelle Thrush, Pathfinder) continues to be haunted by the stabbing, the death of her child, and past mistakes. As newly appointed Chief, Victor (Nathaniel Arcand, Pathfinder) feels the pressure of leading the reserve, while attempting to achieve financial stability for Blackstone. Daryl (Steven Cree Molison, Brokeback Mountain) begins a new relationship with a connected loan shark, which becomes threatened after an unexpected betrayal.
CBC SPORTS
- CBC SPORTS PRESENTS… (5×24, Documentary, CBC Sports, Canada)
Five standalone documentaries profiling Canadian athletes and teams who will be competing at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 this summer.
- CBC PRESENTS: NEVER STOP
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 18
Canadian road cyclist Mike Woods has had a proverbial uphill climb in his athletic career and personal life. But, the challenges have made him resilient and driven towards a golden finish line in Tokyo.
- CBC PRESENTS: BLAME IT ON RIO
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 18
Canadian divers Jennifer Abel and Meaghan Benifeto are no strangers to the pressure of the international stage. Both have lots of experience winning and losing, sometimes by just tenths of a point. Together they reflect on their competitions in Rio and are now using those memories as fuel for their final Olympic Games in Tokyo.
- CBC PRESENTS: REPRESENT
Begins streaming Tuesday, June 18
Montreal skateboarder Annie Guglia has had three dreams since she was a little girl. To skate in the X Games, be on the cover of a skateboard magazine and represent Canada at the Olympics. Now, as the sport makes its debut in Tokyo, Annie has the chance to represent her country and all the young future girl-boarders out there watching.
- CBC PRESENTS: THE FASTEST LANE
Begins streaming in late June
Rio 2016 proved to be a great success for the Canadian women in the pool. As 16-year-old Penny Olesiak raced into the spotlight, her teammates were right there with her helping to win a total of 6 medals. After a successful 2019 World Championships, the team was ready to dominate in Tokyo. But injuries, personal challenges and the pandemic were unexpected roadblocks that have made the team dig deeper than they ever thought necessary.
- CBC PRESENTS: IN OUR BLOOD
Begins streaming in late June
Rugby made its debut at Rio 2016 and after an impressive bronze medal debut performance, the Canadian women are hungry for more. Now, five years later, the team still only thinks about one colour: Gold.
THE BEST OF CBC:
- Past and current seasons of CBC series including BURDEN OF TRUTH THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW, FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES, HEARTLAND, MURDOCH MYSTERIES, STILL STANDING, TALLBOYZ, KIM’S CONVENIENCE, BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW, and SCHITT’S CREEK; and classic CBC hits like BEING ERICA.
COMING IN JULY
- The Day
- Head High
- Suits