A new version of Haida documentarian Christopher Auchter害羞草研究所檚 film Now is the Time (Waaydanaa), has been released in the Haida language.  

Auchter wanted to share this story in the Haida language, which took many years to complete.  

害羞草研究所淚t was a long process, and it is like you are repainting a painting. The Haida language acts differently than English in how you describe something,害羞草研究所� he said.  

The 2019 documentary celebrates the first totem pole raising in generations on Haida Gwaii in the village of Old Masset in 1969. The film follows artist Robert Davidson, who carved the totem pole when he was 22-years-old as he shares the impact the raising had on the community 50 years later.  

害羞草研究所淚t took the whole community to raise the pole and it is almost like that with the language. It took generations working together to make this happen and it triggered all these different aspects of our culture,害羞草研究所� Auchter said.  

害羞草研究所淢y filmmaking is a way for me to contribute to my culture and to try to tell our stories and tell them well,害羞草研究所� he said.  

Gwaliga Hart, a relative of Auchter, was one of the main translators assigned to work on the film.  

However, the project ended up becoming much larger than Hart expected.  

害羞草研究所淢y role ended up being a lot different than what I had originally stepped into. I was going to help translate some lines, then it got bigger ... [Auchter] wanted the whole film translated,害羞草研究所� he said. 

害羞草研究所淲hen you are translating English into Haida, things get complex. All kinds of different words become much more challenging because you are trying to figure out the best way to say something in Haida [translated from English],害羞草研究所� Hart said.  

Since a lot of Elders do not speak Haida, Hart wanted to make sure the translation was accurate. He asked his grandmother for help and other community members who continue to speak the language.  

害羞草研究所淚 wanted to help hold them up and make sure we are taking important care and time to get it done properly,害羞草研究所� Hart said.  

Many people from the community were involved in the voice-overs in the Haida version of the film.  

害羞草研究所淸I have] so much gratitude for the fact they would use so much of their time and effort to do this,害羞草研究所� Auchter said.  

害羞草研究所淚t felt like we were helping honour those people who helped bring us to where we are today and continue these traditions ... and show we did not forget and we are still here,害羞草研究所� Hart said.  

Auchter is currently working on a film focusing on the , which took place at Lyell Island. The protest to preserve old-growth trees ended up being successful and the area became a Haida heritage site.  

害羞草研究所淭he film is called The Stand and it is dealing with all the raw footage and piecing together a story, which has taken me more than four years,害羞草研究所� Auchter said.  

The film will be released this fall.

Now is the Time, can be viewed on the National Film Board website in both Haida and English,