Water Worlds, the first-ever Indigenous water documentary series, will premiere on January 9, 2025, on APTN, with a special focus on Haida Gwaii. Narrated by acclaimed Cree-Métis actor Tantoo Cardinal, the series begins by highlighting the Haida Nation’s efforts to protect the Northern Abalone species. Viewers will explore the stunning landscapes of Haida Gwaii, including Gwaii Haanas National Park, and witness the important work of local divers, researchers, and Indigenous leaders working alongside top scientists to safeguard the region’s fragile marine ecosystems.
“The Haida are leaders when it comes to conserving their waterways,” Producer and Director Len Morrissette told Haida Gwaii News. Morrissette explained that the concept for the show began as a sketch on a napkin and has evolved into this powerful, cross-country documentary that explores Canada’s fragile ecosystems and how to restore their balance through an Indigenous lens.
During his time filming on Haida Gwaii in 2022, Morrissette said he was taken by the beauty of the islands and the generosity of the welcome he and his film crew received. “I read the whole Haida Gwaii Marine report before I came, which seemed to blow people’s minds,” he laughed. While filming on the water with the CHN Fisheries team, the underwater film crew followed Shellfish Biologist Jaasaljuuz Yakgujanaas as she dived among the abalone. Yakgujanaas told Haida Gwaii News that she had a pleasant experience with the crew, has seen a draft of the episode, and is looking forward to seeing more.
Water Worlds is rooted in the principle of Two-Eyed Seeing, which combines traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern science. Morrissette, a Mistawasis band member from Grand Prairie, Alberta, had never been to Haida Gwaii or spent significant time in the oceans before filming the series.
In keeping with the principles of Two-Eyed Seeing, the series not only incorporates Indigenous knowledge but also supports language revitalization. Narrator Tantoo Cardinal, of Cree descent, relearned the Cree language specifically to narrate the series in both Cree and English.
By integrating traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern science, Water Worlds demonstrates how these complementary approaches can help protect the planet. One episode features the use of cryogenics to preserve salmon species in First Nations territories, a modern solution grounded in ancient wisdom to restore ecological balance. Filming the series was eye-opening for Morrissette, who explained that he learned about some of the drastic losses of kelp forests and other environmental challenges that First Nations across Canada have been facing.
The series will air on APTN on January 9. Morrissette says this is the first-ever Indigenous water documentary series. The 13-part series takes viewers on a visually striking and educational journey through Canada’s oceans, lakes, and wetlands, exploring humans’ profound impact on these vital aquatic ecosystems essential to our survival. Water Worlds will be available in English and Cree, with new weekly episodes airing on APTN and streaming on APTN Lumi.
The series begins with a visit to Haida Gwaii, where local divers work to protect the Northern Abalone species in the Haida Nation. The premiere episode showcases breathtaking locations, including Gwaii Haanas National Park, and highlights the work of Indigenous experts alongside top scientists, such as renowned Canadian cave diver Jill Heinerth. Throughout the series, viewers will also explore the Comox Valley and Canada’s largest underground freshwater cave system, located in the unceded territories of the Algonquin and Anishinaabe peoples beneath the Ottawa River.
Morrissette said that the experience of making the series was life-changing, and he was moved by the hospitality of the Haida Nation and the Haida Dancers, along with their families, who came out to meet the crew and show them the local ways of hospitality.