What they call a terrorist, we call a warrior. In the summer of 1974, a group of young Anishinaabe warriors led by Louis Cameron launched an armed occupation of Anicinabe Park. Their demands were for better housing, employment opportunities, the return of Anicinabe Park lands, and an end to the brutal systemic racism in Kenora, Ontario. The 39-day occupation became a moment that pushed Indigenous rights forward.

In Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising, director Shane Belcourt relies on first-person accounts, new interviews, archival footage, and Louis Cameron’s own words to paint a picture of this moment in history and its connection to the present. Louis’ son, Tyler Cameron, reflecting on his father as “one of the most wanted men in Canada,” brings heart to the complex and enigmatic Louis, offering us a portrait of Anishinaabe power in times of struggle.

Shane Belcourt is a Canadian Screen Award–nominated filmmaker known for feature films, like Tkaronto, Red Rover, and Warrior Strong, and award-winning docs, including Beautiful Scars and Indictment. He is the co-creator and co-showrunner of an upcoming CBC narrative miniseries set to film in 2025–2026.