Windigo

Native Americans clash with the Canadian government as they struggle for independence in this factual Canadian drama set in Quebec during the summer of 1990 Eddie Laroche a rebellious native leader spawned a national crises when he and his supporters declared the independence of Aki territory in a farflung area of northern Quebec He refused to negotiate without the presences of television cameras to record his peoples plight Jean Fontaine was the reporter assigned to the story and much of the film is told from his viewpoint To reach Laroches land negotiators government officials and the film crew had to travel by boat Fontaine is initially cynical and reluctant to do the story but after he spends time on the boat interviewing its passengers his cynicism has dissolves and he realizes he is faced with the presentations of a terribly complex situation His dilemma provides a main focus for the film