For many Indigenous youth, abnormal childhoods are the norm. To Kiyari McNab, the memories made in her childhood cannot be simply dualized as good or bad; they can be haunting yet beautiful, sad yet joyful, dark yet warm. Nostalgia seethes as Kiyari shares fragmented memories; some in vivid detail, others like a vague dream. Abnormal Freedom is a homage to her Cree-Ojibwe ancestors’ traditions of oral storytelling, a visual exploration of memories with her family and a collage of the challenges she has faced. Left with unanswered questions about the complexities of her family, Kiyari is suspended between memories and ambitions; the past that shaped her and the future she will shape.
KIYARI MCNAB, Director
Descending from Treaty 4 Territory, Kiyari Mcnab is a first-time filmmaker who calls Saskatoon, Saskatchewan home. As a young girl, she had an intrinsic drive to create art: drawing, painting, and writing poems. By the age of eight, she knew she wanted to become a photographer. In 2016, Kiyari was brought this ream to life after participating in a digital storytelling program at a centre for inner-city youth. Her photography and poetry have since been displayed in multiple exhibits. Not long after, she began to explore filmmaking in hope it might unearth more truths about her family history. Instead, Abnormal Freedom uncovered memories, stories and the power of her own voice. As a Cree-Ojibwe woman, Kiyari Strives to inspire Indigenous girls and women in Canada to look in and speak out.
ANDREA CESSNA | Co-Director + Producer
Hailing from the Canadian prairies, Andrea Cessna is a young, emerging, Saskatoon-based documentary filmmaker. Her interest in filmmaking derives from an interdisciplinary background in anthropology, ethnographic media and sociology; but is grounded in the realms of social and environmental justice. In 2017, Andrea was a recipient of the Hot Docs documentary Channel Doc Accelerator scholarship. This experience led her to a mentorship with Tasha Hubbard (Birth of a Family) and starting her own production company. Andrea is passionate about stories from her region, including her first feature length film, Whitewolf, which is in the early stages of production.
