The Screening of “Wild Temagami”

4/17/2019

What started as a school project is now a film being showcased all over the world.

Hailey Sonntag and Michael Oliphant are both second-year Broadcasting students at Mohawk College. They originally created Wild Temagami for a school project, but it is now a part of the Reel Paddling Film Festival, which showcases some of the world’s best paddling films in over 120 countries. Greenwood had the privilege of screening Wild Temagami and had the opportunity to listen to Hailey and Michael talk about their journey filming in the outdoors.

“Not all environmental fighting has to be physical. You can share awareness through video and that is what we are trying to do.” -Hailey Sonntag

Wild Temagami centres around well-known adventurers Hap and Andrea Wilson. They share a love and passion for Temagami and ownCabin Falls Ecolodge located on the Lady Evelyn River. In this film, Hap and Andrea express their concerns about the logging industry and talk about ways to promote environmental sustainability. “We won’t have places like this if we don’t take a stand,” said Hap.

For over 30years, Hap and Andrea have been involved in Earthroots, a grassroots conservation organization committed to the protection of Ontario’s wilderness. They are dedicated to protecting old growth forests and have been running hiking and canoeing tours in and around the area of Cabin Falls. Andrea encourages people to think about ways they can actively participate in environmental conservation, whether that be through social media, film, storytelling or donations. This film perfectly captures the sacred land of Temagami and motivates viewers to promote environmental awareness.

In order to get the footage for their film, Hailey and Michael flew into a secluded lake by float plane and then canoed and portaged their camera gear and equipment around Temagami. They captured all of their footage over the course of only four and a half days. “It was my first real backcountry canoeing experience,” said Hailey.

Both Hailey and Michael inspired Greenwood students to be part of change and to pursue their passions. “We are only 20 years old, which is not far off from the age of Grade 12s here,” said Hailey. “I think that tells you that you can do whatever you put your mind to.”

Thank you, Hailey and Michael, for sharing your journey and for showing us how we can make a positive impact on the world.

To learn more about Wild Temagami check out Hailey and Michael’s Facebook page.

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We acknowledge with gratitude the Ancestral lands upon which our main campus is situated. These lands are the Ancestral territories of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Anishinabek and the Wendake. The shared responsibility of this land is honoured in the Dish with One Spoon Treaty and as settlers, we strive to care for the land, the waters, and all creatures in the spirit of peace. We are responsible for respecting and supporting the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. When away from this campus we vow to be respectful to the land by protecting and honouring it. We will create relationships with the people and the land we may visit by understanding the territories we enter and the nations who inhabit them.