Decolonizing History
Decolonizing History
  • Gemeaux gagnant 2022
  • Numix gagnant 2022
  • Courts dun soir grand prix 2021

Decolonizing History

Decolonizing History features little-known chapters in Quebec history and sheds light on landmark events through never-before-seen archival footage and solid research. It is a first step towards better understanding, better awareness and building a collective history that includes all voices.

Short-form series
10 X 8 min
Télé-Québec
telequebec.tv

Decolonizing History features little-known chapters in Quebec history and sheds light on landmark events through never-before-seen archival footage and solid research. It is a first step towards better understanding, better awareness and building a collective history that includes all voices.

Original idea & Content Production
Karine Dubois
Director
Ky Vy Le Duc
Screenwriting
Suzie Bouchard
Hosts
Vanessa Destiné, Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash & Youssef Shoufan
Genre
Documentary
Country
Canada
Original Version
French
Format
HD
Ratio
16:9
Duration
10 X 8 min
Sound
Stereo
Year
2021
Trailer
Episodes
S01 E01
Inuit sled dogs killed by the thousands
Between 1957 and 1975, thousands of sled dogs were slaughtered in Nunangat, northern Canada. For the Inuit, these animals must live freely in the community. The zeal of the authorities had a tragic impact on their way of life.
S01 E02
Cab crisis: the racism of the '80s
Racism was rampant in the Quebec cab industry in the 80s. Customers sometimes refused to ride with Haitian drivers, who were powerless in this matter. It was a “next man up” policy. How have things changed since then?
S01 E03
The horror of residential schools
For more than 150 years, indigenous children were taken away from their parents and placed in residential schools with the aim of erasing their culture. Many were mistreated and abused, and some even died. How do you “repair” such trauma?
S01 E04
July 1: a dark day in the history of the Chinese in Canada
In 1885, Chinese workers were expelled from the country after building a railroad under atrocious conditions. An exaggerated head tax was imposed. Could it be that they had come just to do the jobs nobody wanted?
S01 E05
Student riot at Sir George Williams University
In 1969, the forerunner of Concordia University played host to a landmark event. Anti-racist protests against a teacher, initially peaceful, ended in violence after an unexpectedly heavy-handed intervention.
S01 E06
Police raid in Listuguj
In 1981, some 300 armed officers landed in a Mi'gmaq community on the Gaspé Peninsula to ban net fishing. Known as the Restigouche salmon crisis, the Listuguj raid was brutal and still leaves its mark today.
S01 E07
The Rabinovitch Affair: An anti-Semitic strike in Quebec
In 1934, a strike took place against the hiring of Sam Rabinovitch, a Jewish doctor. How could Catholic doctors decide to stop providing care in order to oppose the hiring of their colleague?
S01 E08
Women and indigenous struggles
Women play a leading role in the resistance struggles of indigenous peoples. They have had to fight against the colonial system, which also imposed a patriarchal model on them. Who are these women who have broken down barriers?
S01 E09
The little-known struggle of the Gatineau matchmakers
Before electrification, women made matches in appalling conditions. A woman named Donalda led them on strike. Does the leader of the country's first women's union have a place in our history books?
S01 E10
First nations nationalism: shattering the myth of the two founding populations
The right to self-determination, the defense of language: Quebec nationalism has much in common with the demands of indigenous communities. Yet their nationalism challenges established order. When will we truly recognize their contribution as founding peoples?

“Easy to binge-watch. I would have taken many more and much longer.”

– Chantal Guy, La Presse

“In addition to being highly informative, this captivating documentary webseries is carried along by dynamic direction and passionate hosts.”

– Marie-Lise Rousseau, Journal Métro

“It’s superbly simplified and made accessible to a fairly young audience. It helps us understand the present.”

– Jessika Brazeau, 98,5 FM

“A maximum of knowledge in a very short time yet it’s less heavy, less didactic than a high school history course, and obviously much more captivating.”

– Valérie Ambeault, ICI Estrie

Awards and festivals
2021
Grand Prix série courte – Festival Courts d’un soir
2021
Médaille de la Paix catégorie coup de coeur – YMCA du Québec
2022
IAWTV Awards
2022
Gold Award + Social Impact Award – DC Webfest
2022
Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma
2022
INPUT Barcelona
2022
Finalist – Rockie Awards
2022
Winner – Numix – Capsule et websérie – Documentaire – Enjeu de société, culture et histoire
2022
Finalist – Numix – International – Capsule et websérie – Réseaux sociaux
2022
Winner – Meilleure série documentaire + Meilleure série montréalaise – T.O. Webfest
2022
World Webfest Mania
2022
Best Documentary – International – Miami Webfest
2022
Finalist – Prix Gémeaux – Meilleure émission ou série originale produite pour les médias numériques : documentaire
2022
Winner – Prix Gémeaux – Meilleure animation pour une émission ou série produite pour les médias numériques : affaires publiques, sport – Vanessa Destiné
Credits
Original idea & Content Production
Karine Dubois
Director
Ky Vy Le Duc
Screenwriting
Suzie Bouchard
Hosts
Vanessa Destiné, Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash & Youssef Shoufan
Production
Karine Dubois & Marie-Pierre Corriveau
Screenwriting (development)
Judith Lussier
Research
Jenny Cartwright & Mélanie Brière (Mikana)
Archives research
Marie-Hélène Beaudry
Experts & Advisors
Philippe Néméh-Nombré, Harold Bérubé, Widia Larivière (Mikana), Mélanie Brière (Miakana), Catherine Desjardins (Mikana) & Elisa Cohen-Bucher (Mikana)
Cinematography
Maurice Vadeboncoeur
Editing
Ky Vy Le Duc
Graphic & motion design
Simon Potvin-Goulet
Production management
Catherine Lord
Production management assistant
Marie-Hélène Beaudry
Promotion & Marketing
Cindy Labranche
Decolonizing History was produced with the support of
Bell Fund
Télé-Québec
Quebec
SODEC
Canada