Wildlife: This program first looks at the importance of wildlife in Canada in a historical context. The buffalo or bison roamed the west and the nomadic people of the Prairies followed the great herds and hunted them for survival. In Canada's far north, the Inuit primarily rely on the hunting of sea mammals and land animals for food. Their subsistent-based life played and still plays a significant role in their culture. However, colonization and modernization has made their food supply and subsistent activities vulnerable.

Non-human life on our planet is in a more perilous state that ever before. Experts believe the world is in the midst of a biodiversity crisis on par with earlier mass extinction events. 17,000 plant and animal species are now in serious decline. Global biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate, putting the survival of other species and our own future at risk. Large hydro-electric projects, logging, mining, road building, and climate change impacts migratory patterns, food sources and natural habitats. Wildlife health is extrinsically linked to the health of the environment which in turn impacts human health. When we disrupt their habitats, and destroy their food sources, we change the entire balance of life – not just theirs but also our own!

Filmmaker Bio: An award-winning Métis filmmaker, Matt LeMay is an innovator in the field of educational documentary film. He has channelled his passion for addressing social issues that impact First Nations and Métis communities into documentaries that showcase the power of Indigenous storytelling and the importance of protecting the natural environment.