Jennie Kermode giving voice
The Bones of Our Never-cestors: Exploring Ancestry Through Spoken Word
What happens to those people who never achieve the status of ancestors? How do subsequent generations find their footing in relation to those who came before them? These profound questions form the bedrock of Andrea Grant’s powerful new short film, The Bones Of Our Never-cestors. Through this cinematic lens, Grant delves into themes of lineage and belonging from both a Coast Salish and broader Indigenous perspective.
The film is a remarkable blend of documentary and narrative, weaving together evocative imagery with spoken word poetry. This approach allows the audience to engage directly with complex cultural concepts, transforming philosophical inquiries into visceral visual and auditory experiences.
Grant’s work is a testament to the power of spoken word as a medium for cultural storytelling. Her cinematic vision is rooted in an understanding that history is not just a collection of dates and events, but a living, breathing conversation across generations.
Beyond the film, Grant’s journey with spoken word has been a long and evolving path. She began her exploration traditionally, performing poetry readings in front of an audience using only a microphone and paper—a practice that predates the age of iPads. This foundation in oral tradition set the stage for her more recent cinematic endeavors.
A few years ago, Grant expanded this work into spoken word films, merging the intimacy of poetry performance with the reach of visual media. This evolution reflects a commitment to using narrative as a vehicle for deeply personal and collective truths.
Her earlier work included a spoken word album released in 2003, which continues to resonate, demonstrating the enduring appeal of this art form. Today, her work continues to connect with audiences, showing how ancient themes can be expressed through contemporary artistic forms. The Bones Of Our Never-cestors stands as a moving example of how history, poetry, and film can converge to speak volumes about identity and legacy.
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