This winter, Recreation Nova Scotia and the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre’s Every One, Every Day Program launched a powerful Movie Media Meet Up series focused on decolonization and anti-racism in recreation and the outdoors. Having held our first gathering in December, the conversations are already shaping how we think about access and our relationships to land and community.
Through four in-person sessions, this series uses Canadian films as a starting point for meaningful dialogue, inviting participants to examine how colonial systems continue to influence recreation spaces and outdoor experiences. Together, we are creating space to reflect and imagine more just futures in recreation, grounded in learning, accountability, and collective action.
The first session began by collectively creating community rules of engagement. Rather than arriving with a fixed set of expectations, participants were invited to shape how they wanted to be together in the space. This process centred respect, curiosity, and active listening, helping to build trust and set a supportive tone for the evening. This was an important step, as the group prepared to engage with complex topics.
Participants then watched There’s Something in the Water, a documentary that exposes how environmental racism and industrial planning have disproportionately impacted Black and Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia. The film raises critical questions about who has access to clean, safe, and joyful spaces, while also highlighting the power of community leadership and collective action in the fight for environmental justice.
Following the screening, several key themes emerged through thoughtful group discussion that connected the film’s messages to recreation and community well-being. Participants reflected on how environmental justice is closely tied to access to recreational spaces, health, and quality of life, with many sharing that they were newly learning about the realities of environmental racism in Nova Scotia and how uneven access to healthy land continues to impact communities.
The conversation also highlighted ongoing tensions between governments and land users, questions of decision-making and responsibility, and the importance of supporting communities that are leading change rather than speaking for them. Throughout the discussion, participants connected these themes to their own lives, sharing personal stories that deepened their relationships to land and recreation.
As the Movie Media Meet Up series continues, we are carrying these reflections forward with intention. Each session builds on the last, creating space not only to learn and unlearn, but to imagine what meaningful change in recreation and outdoor spaces can look like. By the end of the four sessions, we hope to collectively identify a clear call to action. One that is informed by community voices and focused on tangible steps toward more equitable and decolonized recreation across Nova Scotia!
Looking for more information about our Movie Media Meet Up? Follow the link: https://www.halifaxiseveryone.ca/movie-media-meet-ups