The Making of Nechako
Resources to Support Narrative Sovereignty
Nechako set important precedents for Documentary filmmaking, creating new language in contracts and processes to ensure that copyright, reciprocity, and IP stayed with the Nechako Nations. The resources shared below were created in close partnership and collaboration with Entertainment Lawyer Nathaniel Lyman at Chadler, Fogden, Lyman.
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Memorandum of Understanding
We created a Memorandum of Understanding in development, to guide the relationship between the production company (Nechako Films INC), Saik’uz and Stellat’en as well as to ensure that creative decisions remained with the director, Lyana Patrick. This MOU was then modified and included in all contractor agreements.
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National Film Board Contract Language
We worked with the National Film Board (Co-Producer) to ensure that language in our co-production agreement recognized the process in place, and the intentions behind it. This represents the first time this langauge has been used in an NFB co-production agreement, and is shared with their permission.
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Community Benefit Agreement
Once production began we started to draft a community benefit agreement (CBA) based on ongoing conversations between the production company (Nechako Films INC) and leadership at Saik’uz and Stellat’en. The CBA outlines everything from community filmmaking programs, archival ownership and access and revenue sharing. Names and amounts have been redacted.