A fun and exciting 10-part half-hour documentary series that dives into the world of Indigenous commercial fisheries and their connection to the people, their traditions, and their homeland.
GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land returns for Season 2 as a 10-part, half-hour documentary series about fearless and fun-loving Mi’kmaq people on the East Coast whose lives are inextricably connected to the water. The characters take us out on the water to harvest lobster, snow crab, shrimp, tuna, herring, eel, and even kelp. We also get an inside perspective on how First Nations commercial fishing industries have grown to be a key economic and cultural support for their communities. Season 2 will take us to four different First Nations in Mi`kma`ki: Listuguj (QC), Gesgapegiag (QC), Sipekne’katik (NS) and Pictou Landing (NS).

Season 2 of GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land will premiere in English on APTN lumi Tuesday, August 29 and on APTN Tuesday, September 5

The premiere in Mi’gmaq on APTN will take place on:
Tuesday September 5th APTN East
Thursday September 7th on APTN West
Monday September 4th APTN North

Check your local listings or visit www.aptntv.ca/schedule
for specific showtimes.


Watch the Gespe’gewa’gi: The Last Land Season 2 official trailer
Promotional images available here

This season, we get immersed in the excitement of the characters’ jobs and the volatile — sometimes dangerous — nature of the industry.  At the same time, we learn about how Western science and Indigenous knowledge intersect when it comes to conservation and managing fisheries responsibly.
 
Despite the old superstition that women are bad luck on boats, Season 2 of GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land features a higher proportion of women characters in the industries of commercial fisheries, science and conservation. Captain Bev Denny, Alanna Syliboy and Chelsea Prosper, among others, are taking the reins to secure a stable future for their communities and the next generation of fishers.


BEV (EP. 203): As one of the first female captains in her community, she’s dealt with her share of doubt, racism and sexism. She is a respected captain and a mentor for young people like Austin who want to follow in her footsteps. Whether it’s for the rush of adrenaline reeling in a 600-pound tuna, or the thrill of hauling in a lucrative snow crab harvest, Bev’s at home at the helm.



ALANNA (EP. 204): With a never-ending supply of energy and positivity, Alanna Syliboy of Sipekne’katik First Nation is racing to save the endangered Bay of Fundy salmon. A traditional and staple food source for the Mi’kmaq, the salmon population in this part of Nova Scotia is dwindling. Alanna works with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi`kmaq and the Coldbrook Biodiversity Facility to study salmon, breed them, and release them back to the rivers, with the hope of one day being able to fish them again. The entire process combines traditional Indigenous knowledge with Western science, and it is the core practice that guides Alanna — the concept of Etuaptmumk, or “Two-Eyed Seeing.”


CHELSEA (EP. 208):  Chelsea Prosper is a young fisher who grew up on the water fishing for lobster with her dad. Along with her boyfriend Craig, she advocates for the Mi’kmaq right to harvest lobster. She is equally determined to show other young women that there’s room on the deck for them, even doing the dirtiest type of fishing: herring. It wasn’t that long ago that fishing lobster from anywhere near the community’s shores was impossible, due to 50 years of pollution from a nearby pulp mill that pumped its waste into their backyard, Boat Harbour. Luckily for Pictou Landing First Nation, Chief Andrea Paul led the fight for clean water, and life is finally returning to A’sek (Boat Harbour) after the mill’s closure.

CREDITS
GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land, Season 2 is directed by: Ernest Webb, Greg Lawrence, Courtney Montour; produced by: Lisa M. Roth.
 
Director Trainee: Heather Condo; Camera trainee: April Maloney; Executive Producers: Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon, Linda Ludwick, Ernest Webb & Greg Lawrence     

About Rezolution Pictures
Rezolution Pictures,  an award-winning film, television and interactive media production company is founded by Ernest Webb and Catherine Bainbridge and plays a vital role in bringing cultural diversity to the North American broadcasting landscape. Since 2001 it has built itself a reputation for creating acclaimed series and one-of-a-kind productions, working with many of Canada’s best new and established Indigenous talents to create unique comedy, dramatic, and documentary films and television series. Rezolution’s latest released drama project is Bell Media’s Crave and APTN Lumi’s original premium dramatic series Little Bird. Past productions include the Emmy-nominated, Sundance, Hot Docs, and Canadian Screen Award winner, feature documentary RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World, the multiple-Gemini and Peabody Award-winning film Reel Injun, as well as the dramatic comedy series Mohawk Girls, and several other award-winning documentaries including The Oka Legacy, Smoke Traders, The Last Explorer, and Club Native.  Rezolution has been producing content in for APTN for almost 2 decades, creating successful documentary series in English and Indigenous languages such as the Gemini-nominated Down the Mighty River, Working it Out Together, Dream Big, Indians + Aliens, Dreamcatcher Bios, and Gespe’gewa’gi: The Last Land.
 
About APTN and APTN lumi
APTN launched in 1999 as the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world. A respected non-profit and charitable broadcaster, APTN shares authentic stories in English, French and a variety of Indigenous languages with nearly 10 million Canadian households. In 2019, the network launched APTN lumi, the first Indigenous-focused streaming service in Canada. Available on a monthly subscription basis, the platform offers an extensive catalogue of original programming, documentaries, kids’ shows and much more—all told from Indigenous perspectives. 
 
English Website | Mi’gmaq Website |Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
 
#LastLandAPTN  #LastLandTV

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Members of the GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land production team and certain on-screen talents are available for interviews.
 
Links to screeners available upon request.

APTN Media Contact: 
Angel Moore | angelmoore@dal.ca

Rezolution Pictures Media Contacts:
Leisa Lee | leisa@leisaleegroup.com | 514.946.2010
Talar Adam | talar@leisaleegroup.com | 514.833.0274
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