''Johnny Tootall'' is a 2005

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

written and directed by

Shirley Cheechoo Shirley Cheechoo (; born 1952) is a Canadian Cree actress, writer, producer, director, and visual artist, best known for her solo-voice or monodrama play '' Path With No Moccasins'', as well as her work with De-Ba-Jeh-Mu-Jig theatre group. Her ...

.Laura Stevens
"Johnny Tootall to receive wider audience"
''Ontario Birchbark'', Vol. 5 No. 6 (2006). The film stars

Adam Beach Adam Beach (born November 11, 1972) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his roles as Victor Joseph in '' Smoke Signals''; Frank Fencepost in '' Dance Me Outside''; Tommy on ''Walker, Texas Ranger''; Kickin' Wing in '' Joe Dirt''; U.S. Marin ...

as the titular Johnny Tootall, a young

First Nations First nations are indigenous settlers or bands. First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to: Indigenous groups *List of Indigenous peoples *First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...

man who joins the Canadian army to fight in the

Bosnian War The Bosnian War ( / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. Following several earlier violent incid ...

, in a bid to avoid the responsibility of taking on the role of hereditary chief of his community. The film was shot around

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest ...

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

with the Ahousaht Nations people. It won "Best Film" honors at the 2005

American Indian Film Festival The American Indian Film Festival is an annual non-profit film festival in San Francisco, California, United States. It is the world's oldest venue dedicated solely to Native American/First Nations films and prepared the way for the 1979 formati ...

."SF Chronicle: ‘Johnny Tootall,’ ‘Trudell,’ ‘Hank Williams First Nation’ take Indian festival awards"
'' IndieWire'', November 19, 2005.

Cast

as Johnny Tootall *

Nathaniel Arcand Nathaniel Arcand (born November 13, 1971) is a Canadian actor. He is known for his first major role in the Canadian drama series ''North of 60'', in which for three seasons he played William MacNeil, a smart-mouthed, cocky, troubled, and misunder ...

as RT *

Alex Rice Alexandrea Kawisenhawe Rice is a First Nations (Mohawk) actress. Rice is known for her performances in ''The Twilight Saga (film series), The Twilight Saga'' (2008–2012) and in a series of PBS films adapted from the mystery novels of Tony Hille ...

as Serena *

Sheila Tousey Sheila May Tousey (born June 4, 1959) is a Native Americans of the United States, Native American actress. Biography Born in Keshena, Wisconsin in 1959, Tousey is a stage and film actress of Menominee and Stockbridge-Munsee descent. She was ra ...

as Agnes (as Sheila May Tousey) *

Ben Cotton Ben Cotton (born July 26, 1975) is a Canadian film and television actor. His most notable roles are on the TV series ''Stargate Atlantis'' playing scientist Dr. Kavanagh, his portrayal of "Leon Bell" in the game Dead Rising 2, Shane Pierce, the ...

as Henry *

Miranda Frigon Miranda Frigon (born February 8, 1980) is a Canadian actress and singer-songwriter. She starred in the television series '' Primeval: New World'' (2012-13) and ''Day of the Dead'' (2021) and played Lynn Liggett-Smith in the Hallmark Movies & Mys ...

as Luke *Shawn Reis as Lloyd *Randi Knighton as Tiffany *Jazmine Charleson as Dancer 1 * Shyanne Samuel as Dancer 2 *Kathleen Ambrose as Dancer 3 *Francine Charleson as Dancer 4

References

External links

* 2005 television films 2005 films Canadian drama television films First Nations films English-language Canadian films Films set in Canada Films shot in British Columbia 2000s Canadian films {{Canada-tv-film-stub