Fort Nelson filmmaker's Tea Creek nominated at Sundar Festival

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Tea Creek, about Jacob Beaton’s initiative’s toward Indigenous-centric agriculture sovereignty, being shot in 2023 in Kitwanga, B.C. (Photo submitted by Ryan Dickie)

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Ryan Dickie’s documentary about an Indigenous B.C. farm focusing on food sovereignty continues to gain accolades.

Dickie’s film Tea Creek has been nominated for three awards at the Sundar Prize Film Festival in Surrey from April 10th to April 13th.

A member of Fort Nelson First Nation, Dickie’s documentary focuses on the efforts of Indigenous farmer Jacob Beaton in mentoring Indigenous food producers at his family’s farm in Kitwanga.

While the idea for the film came in 2021, the actual production didn’t start until a year later. The film had its worldwide debut at the Doxa Documentary Film festival in Vancouver last April.

The film was made available through the CBC Gem mobile app last October.

Dickie told Energeticcity.ca the news “made him proud” of everyone who contributed to the production.

“[I’m] obviously really happy for Jacob and the folks at Tea Creek for getting some of the acknowledgement with the story that they’ve created for themselves,” said Dickie.

“Its been a little over a year since it’s been released, to see it’s still garnering high praise is very rewarding for sure.”

Tea Creek has been nominated for best British Columbian film, best Canadian documentary and best environmental film.

“We always knew [the film] checked all of those [nomination] boxes,” said Dickie. “With the environmental message of what you know is possible, especially when it comes to reconciliation.

“To see it gaining high praise in those categories not only helps us as filmmakers, but Jacob and the work they are doing and the message they’re spreading resonates [with all of us].”

In just its second year, the Sundar Prize Film Festival says its mission is to “recognize and showcase films that use impactful and informative storytelling” with an aim to celebrate filmmakers who “are committed to creating positive social impact and promoting empathy, understanding and social justice,” according to its website.
Visit the Sundar Prize Film Festival’s website for more details.