Haida filmmaker Patrick Shannon’s documentary links the Skidegate Saints’ basketball journey to Indigenous identity and land rights.
How Basketball Became a Beacon for Haida Culture
A new documentary by Haida filmmaker Patrick Shannon is showing the world that basketball is more than a game it’s a lifeline for culture, identity, and sovereignty. Saints and Warriors follows the Skidegate Saints, one of the strongest teams on B.C.’s northwest coast, as they compete in the All Native Basketball Tournament while also leading efforts to secure recognition of Haida title to their lands and waters.
The 98-minute film, produced by InnoNative and Grand Scheme, hits select Canadian theaters on Nov. 21 and will be available for rent or purchase starting Nov. 28.
Sport as Survival
“Basketball was a tool to keep our culture alive during the harshest days of the Indian Act,” Shannon explains. During a time when it was illegal for Haida people to gather in groups larger than three, sports and church events became rare legal ways to meet and reconnect. Residential schools also unintentionally introduced basketball to coastal communities, which students brought back home each summer.
“These laws weren’t just restrictions; they tried to sever ties between Nations,” Shannon says. “Connections, trade, family relationships everything that had lasted for thousands of years was criminalized. Basketball became one of the only ways to bring our communities together.”
The All Native Basketball Tournament, first held in 1947, offered a legal space for Indigenous communities to reconnect, revive traditions, and represent their cultures proudly. Over decades, basketball evolved into a central pillar of leadership and community life across the northwest coast.
A Dynasty on and off the Court
The film tracks the Saints’ 2023-24 season, an aging team facing new challenges as a key player moves to a rival city. By the time filming began, the Saints had won eight titles in 11 years.
Simultaneously, the documentary follows the Haida Nation’s political journey, culminating in a historic agreement with Canada and British Columbia recognizing Aboriginal title. Many of the leaders in this struggle also star in the team’s story, blending sports, politics, and community leadership into one powerful narrative.
Authentic Haida Storytelling
Shannon, a 20-year veteran filmmaker, was committed to telling the story from within the community. “We made this film collaboratively,” he says. “Community members shaped the story from start to finish to make sure it was told the right way.”
Council of the Haida Nation president Jason Alsop echoes the sentiment: “This is a chance for Haida storytelling to be done by Haida people. Too often, our stories are filtered through outsiders. Here, we control the narrative.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
At the heart of the documentary is Saints leader and Haida council member Desmond “Desi” Collinson. As both a narrator and key player, he hopes the film inspires pride and confidence:
“I want individuals to feel proud, inspired, and believe they can achieve their goals,” Collinson says. “By keeping the story true to our community, we show the world who we really are.”
Haida filmmaker Gwaai Edenshaw, co-director of the Haida-language feature Edge of the Knife, sees this approach as part of a broader movement. Films that speak first to Haida audiences resonate far beyond their communities, proving authenticity attracts attention worldwide.
Beyond Basketball: A Model for Reconciliation
Shannon believes Saints and Warriors is also a concrete example of what reconciliation can look like when Indigenous rights are respected. “Haida Gwaii shows a beautiful, healthy dynamic between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people,” he says. “It’s a model of respect, stewardship, and long-term decision-making for the good of all.”
Basketball continues to play a role in bridging communities. “It’s one of the few spaces where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can gather without politics, build trust, and form relationships,” Shannon notes. “And that’s priceless.”
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