A filmmaker from a Blackfoot community in Southern Alberta hopes to put a face to the drug addiction crisis through her documentary, The Meaning of Empathy. Elle-Maija Tailfeathers says it was filmed over four years and includes the mobilization of the Kanai First Nation to deal with the crisis.

Hundreds of Blackfoot community members have died over the last decade, so Tailfeathers wanted to document the actions of the community, saving lives through harm reduction. It’s seen through the lens of the front line workers and those dealing with addictions. She hopes it will help audiences to understand the deeper historical legacy of colonialism and how that impacts today.

Tailfeathers says it’s not all trauma and tragedy. It’s also a story of empathy and a community taking action. The Meaning off Empathy plays at The Roxy Theatre on November 19th.