Wapos Bay - There's No "I" in Hockey
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Wapos Bay - There's No "I" in Hockey (2006)
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is proud to present the Canada Award to the stop-motion animation program,
Wapos Bay - There’s No “I” in Hockey.
Created and sponsored by the Multiculturalism Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage since 1988, the Canada Award
honours excellence in mainstream television programming that reflects the racial and cultural diversity of Canada. It aims to promote
greater opportunities for ethnic and visible minority professionals within the broadcasting industry on both sides of the camera.
Following the international success of the 2002 special Christmas at Wapos Bay, the claymation half-hour pilot, Wapos Bay - There’s
No “I” in Hockey, and subsequent series were developed through the NSI Totally Television program, which supports the television
series concepts of aspiring writer-producer teams.
Set during the annual winter festival, Wapos Bay - There’s No “I” in Hockey features the adventures of three Aboriginal children
(Talon and T-Bear playing in a hockey tournament and Raven preparing for the Kohkum/Granddaughter bannock competition) as
they learn about teamwork and cooperation from their grandparents in the fictional northern community of Wapos Bay,
Saskatchewan. Written and directed by Dennis Jackson, this Wapos Bay Productions Inc. and National Film Board of Canada
co-production aired by APTN was produced by Dennis Jackson, Melanie Jackson, Anand Ramayya and Michael Scott.
The combination of Cree and English languages and the mixture of traditional native sounds and contemporary music brings the
colourful animated world of Wapos Bay to life. Behind the scenes, the training of Aboriginal youth interested in the film, video and
animation industries was a priority. Local artists who specialized in computer graphics, animation and modeling created the characters
in pre-production, while the talent of animation students was utilized through the SMPIA Career Development Program (formerly Crew Call).
Screened at numerous film festivals, the critically acclaimed Wapos Bay - There’s No “I” in Hockey won Best Short Drama at the
2005 ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, and Best Children’s Production - Golden Sheaf Award (2006) at the Yorkton Short
Film and Video Festival. Presenting Aboriginal stories with a broader perspective, the pilot and series not only reflect a distinct
community but also create a new brand of entertainment with universal themes to reach an international audience.
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