Tofino Photography - W.C. Barnes
Eli Enns, BA JSC, is a Tla-o-qui-aht political scientist who specializes in Canadian Constitutional Law, International Dispute Resolution, and the Comprehensive Land Claims process in British Columbia. Eli is the great grandson of Now-waas-suum (Harold Charlie mitt) who was the historian and public speaker for Wickaninnish - head chief of the Tla-o-qui-aht confederation. Over the past four years Eli has worked in Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island on a variety of projects ranging from civil and commercial construction developments to language restoration and Restorative Justice initiatives. He is currently leading the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation Building Program, furthering the Tribal Parks initiative and working with domestic and international partners in the Canada Africa Learning Alliance: poverty reduction and the protection of biodiversity.
Eli was the first Tla-o-qui-aht representative on the Board Of Directors of the UNESCO Clayoquot Biosphere Trust from the fall of 2005 to the fall of 2006. Presently, Eli serves on the Board Of Directors for several organizations both locally and nationally including: The Tonquin Foundation, the Tla-o-qui-aht Economic Development Corporation, The Indigenous Cooperative on the Environment and the Tinwis Best Western Resort in Tofino.
"As a cofounder of Pacific Rim Productions, and lead proponent in the making of the feature film production 'Tonquin' my priority is to convey the complexity and beauty of the Tla-o-qui-aht economy and culture prior to contact, and during early contact with European societies. Too often others have told our history and we have been misrepresented. The success of this project will be critical to the continued development of alternative economic sectors in Clayoquot Sound; it is also a great opportunity to pique the interest of some of our youth in our history and culture."
To make the bridge into the arts and entertainment industry Eli has approached this feature film production with the same diligence as other Nation Building projects, both from an executive producer's perspective and from the perspective of the writer/director, developing a general understanding of the business side of film production and the creative side as well. Eli can connect the producers to the people and the land.
"With a strong background in academics, I never imagined myself getting into the film industry; however, I'm excited about the challenge and look forward to the opportunity to share ideas in new ways."
Cam Baker strongly believes that mutual benefits arise from proper respect of first nations' traditional territories, and educating people on the beauty of their culture and environment. With a background in archaeology and adventure tourism, Cam formed a partnership with the People to People Student Ambassador Program in 2002. People to People was founded by President Eisenhower in 1956 in an effort to promote peace through understanding, and their incredible marketing force has made Nomad Travel Ltd. the largest high end educational travel company in Canada.
Each year People to People sends tens of thousands of adventurers across the world to learn, teach, and build stronger relationships abroad. Thousands of young students have travelled from all over the U.S. to western Canada to learn about our diverse cultures and landscapes. Never resting, Nomad continues to be an industry leader and innovator.
Cam has helped in the past to stop logging in an area that housed a tipi camp his students were utilizing, with the argument that tourism is much more sustainable, and therefore more profitable than logging. With his ties to some of the largest travel companies in the world, he can help bring people to Clayoquot Sound to partake in cultural tourism, and hopes to inspire them to protect our earth. NomadTravel.ca
"It is an honour to work on a project of such significance and magnitude. Not only can we tell an incredible story and create scenes never before shown by Hollywood, we can leave a legacy. Clayoquot Sound is an amazing place to do business. Everyday is breathtaking and the people are so friendly and accommodating. Eli and I have made an attempt to bring together a team that can help get the job done right. In our perfect world, there will be lots of carving and costume making to do, and many people will learn the Tla-o-qui-aht language. We hope to mobilize the people of the west coast to help complete this task, helping to rebuild their spirit and revitalize the skills and stories, many of which have already been lost. The Tonquin is an epic tale, and not the only one from the area. The potential is enormous, and we are excited to meet people that share our vision."