Turtle Island Rap

Turtle Island Rap tracks the journey of three young Indigenous artists, Wiidaaseh, A$h Da Hunter, and Travis Thompson, from the hustle to the stage. In cinema verité style, the hard-won triumphs and trials are seen as their individual journeys are taken with warmth and humour, even when things are tough. 

In documentary filmmaker Alexandra Lazarowich’s feature debut following her acclaimed short film Fast Horse, she boasts incredibly varied access, from backstage with the Snotty Nose Rez Kids to hunting on Nipissing territory. 

Travis Thompson, a Navajo skater kid from a Seattle suburb, has a steady fan base thanks to a feature on the Macklemore song “Corner Store,” but still wonders if his community will show for a free concert. 

A$h Da Hunter is from the Yavapai-Apache nation, now working as an indie rapper in Phoenix. Often seen with her mom, she divides her time between working on songs and booking gigs while selling burritos on the street. 

Wiidaaseh is from Wiikwemkoong Unceded First Nation and lives in Toronto working as a rapper, producer, and chef and who performs wearing a beaded mask. 

Each artist is incredibly candid, sharing their family issues, disappointments and more, surrounded by their support networks and communities. 

The documentary’s music pedigree is strong, with several executive producers from the award-winning Hip-Hop Evolution on board, as well as The Halluci Nation’s Tim “2oolman” Hill and Bear Witness as creative producers.

KELLY BOUTSALIS