500 Days in the Wild is an independent feature documentary about filmmaker Dianne Whelan’s attempt to travel the longest trail in the world to search for lost wisdom.
From pushing 150-pounds of bike and packs over rocks, to hiking through flooded bogs, paddling the largest lake in the world, snowshoeing through dense coniferous forests, skiing across wind-blown plains, the trail beckons. Dianne travels the ‘Old Way’, the slow way of the turtle, seeking wisdom from those that live close to the land, asking the questions “What have we forgotten?” “What do we need to know?”
500 Days is the continuation of an old story – the artist dropping out of society and reconnecting to nature – but it is also a new story, a realization that we will not survive traveling solo. 500 Days is symbolic of the 500 years settlers have been on this land. Each morning on the trail, Dianne smudges as she was taught by Haida healers Vern Williams and his partner Diane Chambers and honors the ancestors of this land by praying for the murdered and missing women.
This film will challenge us to revisit our past, our connection to the land and its people, to find our inclusive story that will carry us into the future.
Directed by Dianne Whelan.
Produced by Dianne Whelan, Betsy Carson
500 Days in the Wild is an independent film
Independent art is important, because it gives voice to the human heart. Not trying to sell you toys or clothes with product placement, just humans sharing sincere stories. If you feel called to invest in 500 Days, you can do so and get a tax credit and help keep Canada Wild.
Go to https://cpaws.org/500days/ . Your name will get added to the credit list and you will be part of the making of this film. Shine on.
