Hochelaga, Land of Souls

Hochelaga is the historic Indigenous homeland near present-day Montreal. The film centers on McGill University's Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, where a sinkhole exposes centuries of buried history. This location connects the ancient Iroquoian settlement with modern archaeological discovery, showing how Indigenous heritage persists beneath the contemporary cityscape.

The film spans multiple eras across centuries: the 13th-century Iroquoian world of Hochelaga, Jacques Cartier's 16th-century voyage in 1535, the 17th-century purple fever era, the 19th-century Lower Canada Rebellion in 1837, and present-day archaeological work. The sinkhole serves as a temporal portal linking these distinct historical periods.

The film presents history as living memory carried by communities and places. Archaeology becomes a means to recover silenced stories, particularly Indigenous perspectives, rather than merely preserving objects. Personal lineage, especially Baptiste's, guides the interpretation of artifacts and legends, emphasizing that remembering ancestors honors their legacy and addresses present-day injustices.

The encounters between Jacques Cartier and Chief Tennawake illustrate cycles of exploration, land claims, and cultural negotiation. Cartier's discovery of the cross and his naming of Mont Réal symbolize enduring colonial footprints. The story critiques how European expansion disrupted Indigenous sovereignties while shaping the region's future, showing how past power dynamics continue to inform present relationships.

Archaeology is presented as a tool to test narratives and surface hidden truths. Baptiste's fieldwork uncovers evidence from the purple fever era and links to 1837 events, demonstrating how material remains illuminate complex histories. The process highlights the tension between myth and fact, portraying discovery as a path toward deeper understanding rather than sensationalism.

Baptiste Asigny (performed by Samian) is a Mohawk descendant of a massacre survivor and a graduate student studying Mohawk history who leads the excavation. He battles funding and institutional obstacles but remains driven to uncover Hochelaga's truth. His work bridges generations, giving voice to ancestors while navigating present-day precarity.

Akwi (performed by Tanaya Beatty) is an Indigenous woman connected to the region's long history who observes events with a wary, insightful perspective. Her presence highlights Indigenous continuity and the impact of colonial ripples on living communities. She serves as a bridge between past worlds and present understandings.

Jacques Cartier was the French explorer who arrived at Hochelaga in 1535 and met Chief Tennawake, assigning the land a name. His actions crystallized European claims and initiated a long history of contact between two worlds. Cartier's visit serves as a key historical anchor for the film's exploration of colonial legacy and enduring impacts.

A football field at McGill University's Percival Molson Memorial Stadium sits above a sinkhole that exposes centuries of buried history. This sinkhole becomes the central archaeological discovery that connects the historic Isle of Death with Jacques Cartier's 1535 encounter and later events, linking past and present through the land itself.

Purple fever refers to a 17th-century epidemic, likely typhus or hemorrhagic fever, that affected settlers in the region. The film shows how this disease devastated communities, including the tragic arc of French settler Étienne Maltais, who succumbs to the illness after a hospital confrontation with a priest, underscoring the human cost behind historical narratives.

The 1837 Lower Canada Rebellion appears as one of the historical periods explored through the archaeological dig. Sarah Walker, a widowed figure, offers sanctuary to Patriotes during this turbulent era, embodying resilience and quiet defiance. The film uses this period to explore loyalty, justice, and the long consequences of rebellion in the region.

Chief Tennawake (performed by George Wahiakeron Gilbert) was the leader of Hochelaga who met Jacques Cartier in 1535. His gaze anticipates further European presence while asserting sovereignty. He embodies cautious diplomacy and resilience in the face of encroaching outsiders, and his interaction with Cartier marks a pivotal moment in the region's intercultural history.