Teaser Trailer
A documentary featuring leaders of iconic Indigenous-Haida basketball team, the Skidegate Saints as they compete for two titles -
defending their championship title at the 2024 All Native Basketball Tournament, and the political title battle for their lands and waters.
Documentary, 98 mins, Canada
Synopsis
Saints and Warriors is the epic and inspiring story of how basketball became not only an obsession, but a means for survival for the Haida people and their culture on the remote Indigenous Nation of Haida Gwaii on the northwest coast of Canada, near Alaska.
Over the course of the 2023-24 basketball season, we follow the legendary Haida basketball team the Skidegate Saints who have dominated the iconic All Native Basketball Tournament for the past decade. As team leaders attempt to defend their championship title on the court, they are also working with the Haida government on a decades long court battle with the provincial and federal government to take back Aboriginal title of their land from the governments that stole it with the Indian Act of 1876.
These intertwining battles on and off the court showcase the stunning role that "a silly game of putting the ball in the hoop" plays in Haida Gwaii as a tool for political action, community leadership, and the survival of culture.
PRODUCING AND KEY CREATIVE TEAM
DIRECTOR – PATRICK SHANNON
WRITERS – PATRICK SHANNON, DESMOND COLLINSON, GAAGWIIS JASON ALSOP
PRODUCER – MICHAEL TANKO GRAND
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS - DESMOND COLLINSON, GAAGWIIS JASON ALSOP, VINAY VIRMANI, PATRICK SHANNON, CONNOR RITCHIE
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – HAYLEY MORIN
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS – KELLY KENNY, DUANE ALSOP
DOP – MICHAEL BOURQUIN, SEAN STILLER
EDITORS - GREG NG, HART SNIDER
ADDITIONAL EDITING - DARIAN LUNG
COMPOSER - MARK DOLMONT
AN INNONATIVE AND GRAND SCHEME PRODUCTION
A CO-VENTURE WITH FIRST TAKE ENTERTAINMENT & UNINTERRUPTED CANADA
Director
Patrick Shannon, also known as Nang K‘uulas is an Indigenous-Haida film director and award-winning social entrepreneur from Haida Gwaii, Canada.
Patrick’s work centres around storytelling and the elevation of marginalized voices through education, youth mentorship, media, and technology.
With a decade of experience working in the Vancouver film industry, 12 years as an independent filmmaker, and skills as an award-winning entrepreneur, Patrick has the experience and expertise to bring impactful projects to life.
Patrick leads InnoNative, an Indigenous media production company that works across Canada and internationally on music videos, documentaries, and scripted narratives.
Saints And Warriors is Patrick’s first Feature Film and tells the story about his legendary village basketball team, the Skidegate Saints and his home's deep historical and cultural roots with basketball.
Funded By
BELL MEDIA’S CRAVE
CANADA MEDIA FUND
TELEFILM CANADA
CREATIVE BC
CROSSCURRENTS CANADA DOC FUND
ROGERS GROUP OF FUNDS