Ska-Nah-Doht – Film Production Site
Located in the beautiful surroundings of Longwoods Road Conservation Area, Ska-Nah-Doht Village is a recreation of a longhouse village from 1,000 years ago. Although not built on an actual site, the village is based on data collected by archaeologists and from the traditions passed on by First Nations people.
Longwoods Road Conservation Area is located within the Carolinian Life Zone on the Caradoc Sand Plain. The Mill Stream cuts deep ravine systems throughout the conservation area’s forests, and eventually drains offsite into the Thames River. Wildlife abounds with many bird and animal species. A provincially significant wetland has formed along the Mill Stream and can be viewed from a boardwalk system.
Ska-Nah-Doht Village and some trails at Longwoods Road Conservation Area are wheelchair accessible, weather permitting.
If you would like to use Ska-Nah-Doht Village or the surroundings of Longwoods Road Conservation Area as a film production site, please call 519-264-2420 or email [email protected]. We’d be happy to discuss our film policy with you and ways to make your production a huge success!
Recent Productions:
- November 2021 DJ Shub’s “War Club” – CBC
War Club is a message of protest and power – a visual performance of DJ Shub’s critically acclaimed, chart topping electronic indigenous album ‘War Club’.
CBC Gem – War Club – War Club
Past Productions:
- 1988 “Rendezvous Canada, 1606” – National Film Board of Canada, Montreal, Quebec.
“Rendezvous Canada, 1606” is the story of two youths – one French and one Huron, in early seventeenth century Canada. The film is a testament to the role of the First Nations people in the shaping of New France and modern Canada. - 1994 “The Iroquois Constitution” – Moira Production, Palo Alto, California.
Part of The American Process for a PBS and classroom series. Opening sequence, “The Iroquois Constitution” has members of the Six nations participating in a wampum belt ceremony under a huge tree in a northern forest. Also contains scenes of everyday life in the longhouse and village. Filmed in November. (2 days) - 1995 “Young Hawk” – Blue Hawk Production, Don Mills, Ontario.
For distribution in Germany. This 12 part series follows the adventures of two youth, one British and one Ojibway, caught in the turbulent times of seventeenth century Canada. Filmed in June. (2 weeks) - 1995 “Project Grizzly” – Memory Pictures, Toronto, Ontario.
Produced for the National Film Board of Canada. A documentary on Troy Hurtibise who developed a protective suit, which would enable him to do close quarter research of the Canadian Grizzly bear. Troy’s father worked at Ska-Nah-Doht and as a boy, Troy was highly influenced by the summers he spent in the village and at Longwoods. Scenes include very emotional remembrances filmed in Ska-Nah-Doht. Filmed in September. (1 day) - 2003 Canadian Geographic: “Eating Wild” – Summerhill Productions, Toronto, Ontario.
Part of a series on Foods around the world. Scenes of the longhouse, cooking over fires (with Marg Longdo), also gathering berries in park and general shots. Scenes to be integrated with archaeological evidence. Filmed in September, 2003 (1 day). - 2003 OAS promotional video – Ontario Archaeological Society, Toronto, Ontario.
- 2004 Ontario Visual Heritage Project – Zach Melnick, Visual Heritage, Chatham-Kent, Ontario.
- 2010-11 John Ker, Photographer – [email protected], Ontario.
- 2010 “Little Red Riding Hood” – Media Students, Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario.
- 2010 “The Oneida Story” – Oneida First Nations, Southwold, Ontario.
- 2011 “The Huron Project” – ZAP films, Toronto, Ontario.
This documentary follows the early life of First Nations from pre-contact to the first meeting with Explorer, Etienne Brule. It is a very detailed account of everyday activities in a village, family life, building a village, working corn fields as well as the interaction between First Nations communities. - October 2013 “War of 1812” – various local production companies
Commemoration 200thAnniversary of the War of 1812 including Tecumseh with Antler River and Crocodile Productions, Battle of Longwoods with the Upper Thames Military Re-enactment Society. - November 2013 “We Don’t All Wear Headdresses” – documentary by Fanshawe College student, Savannah Nahwegahbow.
- September 2014 Scenes of the “Pontiac Rebellion 1763” – The Discovery Channel
Ska-Nah-Doht became a French fort, a First Nations village and the Chippewa cabin was dressed as a Trading Post. Production slated for 2015. - October 2014 – “L’écho d’un peuple”
The French School Board hired Ottawa-based production company “L’écho d’un peuple” to create a series of YouTube vignettes in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Champlain in the New World. Featuring an epic battle scene just outside Ska-Nah-Doht, 200 French school children and professional actors all volunteered. The final French language production will be available in 2015.
