Doug is an independent film producer, director, writer and journalist whose career has spanned over 20 years. His work frequently has been recognized and honoured by the media industry.
Weekly columns in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post, and features in the Winnipeg Free Press have made Mr. Cuthand a respected voice for the aboriginal community. A collection of his newspaper writing was published in 2005 as Tapwe.
His film and videos have been featured by the National Film Board, and aired on the CBC and numerous local and independent television stations. They have also won awards at the American Indian Film Festival, the Geminis, the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Association awards and the Columbus International Film and Video Festival.
He was awarded the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) award in 2003 for best column.
In addition to his work as a producer and writer, Doug Cuthand is also the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Little Pine First Nation. Duties include the management of $25 million in trust funds, intended for the purchase of 90,000 acres of land to fulfill the land quantum as promised in the terms of Treaty #6.
From the author:
Askiwina is a collection of stories that I have obtained over the years. The major source came from my Dad, Stan Cuthand, who was a professor of Indian studies at the University of Manitoba and the First Nations University of Canada. Over the years Dad had collected a variety of stories starting with his own father when he was young. My Grandfather was a young boy at the battle of Cutknife Hill and he remembered the great buffalo hunts. I received these stories directly from my Dad in a clear and unaltered state. For example in 1935 they held a 50-year commemoration of the battle of Cutknife Hill and many of the veterans were in attendance. My Dad was 16 years old at the time so he was old enough to remember their stories in such detail that he can tell the story of the battle with great accuracy. This clarity is rare a century later when many stories have been dimmed and lost focus over time.
I wrote this book in order to honour my father and those elders that have passed on their stories over the years. It is through them that our stories remain alive and get passed on to the next generation. I feel that if other people are exposed to our stories than there will be greater understanding about our people.
