Toronto – On May 9, 2022, the six-part Indigenous horror web series Shadow of the Rougarou, will premiere on APTN lumi, APTN’s Indigenous-focused streaming service.
Shadow of the Rougarou, an APTN Lumi original, uses horror elements and traditional Métis mythology to tell the tale ofsâkowêw, a Métis-Cree fur trapper called back home to rally recruits for the 1885 North-West Resistance. As she nears her childhood home, sâkowêw is overtaken by the haunting memories of her desperate escape from a monstrous Rougarou. Following a trail of blood, a ruthless gang of wolfers, and her own forgotten footsteps, she pushes deeper into the darkness to finally face the curse that ripped her life apart.
This limited series is produced by Sean Ronan and James Kingstone and is based on a story by director Jordan Waunch. It explores the Métis legend of the Rougarou, a werewolf-like beast of unspeakable terror. Stories about the Rougarou are regional, with different spellings and interpretations across Turtle Island. Shadow of the Rougarou pays homage to some of these interpretations, featuring dialogue in English as well as in three Indigenous languages: Michif, Cree, and Chinook Wawa (also known as Chinook Jargon).
“Shadow of the Rougarou is a dark western that spins the traditional cowboy narrative of the past on its head while delivering true suspense and horror all wrapped up in a thrilling period piece,” said director Jordan Waunch. “With a bit of punk-rock filmmaking, we celebrate Métis culture and language as the colonial systems of a bygone era slowly crumble by the wayside, all made possible by an incredible cast, crew and group of Elders and Knowledge Keepers. The future of Indigenous storytelling is bright and I would be humbled for our team to continue this journey.”
“APTN Lumi is proud to amplify the Indigenous stories and voices that spark meaningful conversations in our communities,” said Lisa Ducharme, director of online content at APTN. “We are thrilled to add Shadow of the Rougarou to our lineup of APTN Lumi originals to share with audiences across Canada.”
Shadow of the Rougarou was developed with the support of the Indigenous Screen Office’s Project Mentorship Fund and Creative BC’s Project Development Fund. Production financing was provided by the Bell Fund. To learn more about this exciting series, please visit https://www.rougarou.ca/.
