March 15th, 2020 was the last day Pacha Arts, a family owned, Indigenous storefront had their doors open to the public. Mindalaes in Quarantine documents the survival strategies and coping mechanisms of a Kichwa mindalae family living on Turtle Island, whose livelihoods are suddenly changed due to the worldwide pandemic. This film serves as a time capsule for future generations to come, and a reminder of the strength of indigenous resilience during the most difficult of times.
www.pachaarts.com
“Samay beautifully captures this feeling by showing the way the
Arcentales Cajas family live out their tradition in times of the global pandemic. They carried out their traditions when they first came to Canada following extensive pow-wow trails, continued practicing them through the running of the storefront, and now continue to live them through times of quarantine. Although they look quite different due to the restrictions for travelling and gathering, they still hold the teachings of family, community, and resilience at their core. Samay
says “leaving the store was hard, but work has always come from home. We just grew up that way”. - Michaela Coyoli
To read full essay, click here
Credits:
Director/Camera/Editor: Samay Arcentales Cajas
Family Members: Kinoo Arcentales, Marcos Arcentales, Patricia Cajas, Samay Arcentales Cajas
Commissioned by Toronto Queer Film Festival, Queer Emergencies 2020
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