Finn Ryan (Director), Biidaasige Thomas Howes (Producer), Minwaanimad Joseph Gokee (Producer) | 2024 | 11 min.
2026 Official Selection
In its creation story, the game of Baaga’adowewin is given as a gift and tool for life. After forced assimilation, the game was suppressed and remained dormant for almost a century. This film shares the return of Baaga’adowewin, or stickball, as Ojibwe communities walk the path of cultural revitalization and exercise their treaty rights to continue to heal from historical traumas and overcome challenges of today.
Finn Ryan is a film director and media producer whose work focuses on stories of empowerment and revitalization around community, conservation, and the outdoors. His current work features Lake Superior Ojibwe cultural revitalization and environmental stewardship in addition to producing media with Bizhiki, a genre bending musical project. Finn has worked extensively with national organizations, academic institutions, government agencies, and Tribal communities. His films and media engage audiences, community members, and learners online, through broadcast, film festivals, and museums.
