The Skeena
A groundbreaking new television show is diving into the heroic maritime rescues of the country’s only Indigenous coast guard, the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary (CNCGA), in BC.
Ocean Warriors: Mission Ready is a 13-episode documentary series that highlights the historic search and rescue missions that Indigenous Coast Guard members have led.
“It was pretty cool shooting out on the water, working with all these volunteers who are dedicating their time and efforts to responding to calls out in the water.”
Steve Sxwithul’txw, Director and Producer of Ocean Warriors
This exclusive group is made up of volunteers from eight different First Nations, including the Ahousaht, Heiltsuk, Gitxaala, Nisga’a, Kitasoo, Quatsino, Kyuquot/Cheklesahht and `Namgis. Ahead of the show’s premiere this weekend on APTN, we spoke to the series’ director, award-winning Indigenous filmmaker Steve Sxwithul’txw.
The documentary series was filmed by Sxwithul’txw and his crew over 30 days of straight shooting across the Ahousaht, Quatsino, Heiltsuk and `Namgis Nations.
“It was pretty cool shooting out on the water, working with all these volunteers who are dedicating their time and efforts to responding to calls out in the water,” he told us. “It was a really ambitious schedule,” he explained, calling the show “a labour of love.”
The Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary (CNCGA) was created in 2018 after two tragic accidents took place in BC waters. In both events, Indigenous community members were first to respond to the maritime emergencies.
The first incident was the memorable Queen of the North vessel sinking near Hartley Bay in 2006. Hartley Bay fishing and recreational boats were first on the scene to rescue the endangered passengers, though two people were never recovered.
“We actually had the rescuers, the guys that were out there fishing and who responded. Kenny Brown is a very humble band member. The guy saved probably well over a dozen people in his life. But that seems to be his lot in life – to save people.”
Steve Sxwithul’txw, Director and Producer of Ocean Warriors
The second event was the Leviathan II whale-watching ship that sank off of Tofino, where two Ahousaht First Nation fishermen rushed to the rescue after the ship sent off a flare. Six people died, but the two fishers were able to save 21 survivors from frigid BC waters.
These tragedies led the federal government to create and fund a volunteer Coast Guard crew from coastal Indigenous communities, Sxwithul’txw explained. “What better place to look than First Nations,” he said. “They’re out there. The waters are our highways.”
In every episode of Ocean Warriors, current members of the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary re-enact the harrowing life-and-death missions they participated in. The Leviathan II rescue is told in one episode in the series, and it was important for Sxwithul’txw and his crew to get it “as close as possible” to the real-life event.
“We actually had the rescuers, the guys that were out there fishing and who responded,” he said. “Kenny Brown is a very humble band member. The guy saved probably well over a dozen people in his life. But that seems to be his lot in life – to save people.”
Each episode has an English version and a Kwak’wala version, the language spoken by the thirteen bands of the Kwakwakaʼwakw peoples living on northern Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Strait.
“We had a whole fleet of drones that were able to give us this panoramic view of the territory in which we’re shooting.”
Steve Sxwithul’txw, Director and Producer of Ocean Warriors
`Namgis Nation Chief and knowledge keeper Bill Cranmer, who recently passed away, did “an amazing job” at both the Kwak’wala and English voiceover for each episode, said Sxwithul’txw.
The cinematography is another stand-out feature of this documentary series.
“We had a whole fleet of drones that were able to give us this panoramic view of the territory in which we’re shooting,” Sxwithul’txw commented.
“It’s such a sense of pride just seeing your work finally coming out onto the screen. It takes a long time, and it’s not just me; it’s my whole crew, and I’m really, really thankful to have the professionals that I have working with me,” he said.
“It really is the beauty of the west coast and its people that really make this show. And it just so happens that some of them happen to be rescuers. It’s really cool how it all melts together.”
Steve Sxwithul’txw, Director and Producer of Ocean Warriors
The network agrees that the show is already a success: Sxwithul’txw and his crew are currently getting ready to shoot season two later this year.
“It really is the beauty of the West Coast and its people that really make this show. And it just so happens that some of them happen to be rescuers. It’s cool how it all melts together,” he said.
The first Kwak’wala episode will be broadcast on APTN on January 9, and the first English episode will air on January 14. You can also stream the episodes online via APTN’s streaming service, lumi, and Apple TV. More information is listed on their website.
