Growing up on Walpole Island First Nation, I heard stories about my great-great-grandfather, Austin Sands. Like many family stories, they became part of my identity, but over time I realized how easily those connections can fade between generations. When I discovered that a dugout canoe Austin had carved more than a century ago still existed in a museum collection, I knew this was more than an extraordinary historical discovery—it was an opportunity to reconnect with my family, my community, and our shared history.

What began as a search for an artifact quickly became something much more personal. Returning home to document the building of a new dugout canoe alongside Elders, knowledge keepers, youth, and my own family reminded me that culture is not preserved in museums alone. It survives through people who continue to carry teachings forward, share knowledge, and create spaces where community can gather.

As both the filmmaker and a descendant of Austin Sands, I found myself navigating two roles throughout this journey. I wanted to document events with honesty while also allowing myself to experience them as a son, grandson, and community member. That balance became the heart of the film. Rather than telling a story about the past, Canoe Carry Me Home explores how history continues to shape the present and how cultural knowledge remains alive through the relationships we build with one another.

This film is ultimately about reconnection. While it begins with the discovery of a canoe, it becomes a story about family, belonging, and the responsibility we all share in carrying our histories forward. My hope is that audiences see reflections of their own families and communities in this journey, and leave with a deeper appreciation for the enduring strength of Indigenous knowledge, resilience, and the power of coming home.