In 2015 , she and Erika MacPherson co-directed the 20-minute National Film Board of Canada documentary '' This River '' , about Canadian Indigenous families that have had to search for family members who have disappeared . Partly based on Vermette 's own experience , the film received the 2016 Coup de coeur du jury award at Montreal 's festival , and premiered in Vermette 's hometown of Winnipeg on October 5 , at the Winnipeg Art Gallery . It was named best short documentary at the 5th Canadian Screen Awards . Vermette and NFB producer Alicia Smith also created a related Instagram work , '' What Brings Us Here '' , a companion piece to '' The River '' , which offers portraits of volunteers behind the community-run Winnipeg search teams the Bear Clan and Drag the Red . Smith has stated that it was Vermette 's '' North End Love Songs '' which helped draw her attention to the perspectives of indigenous youth from the North End and the experience of having missing family members
5th Canadian Screen Awards
5th Canadian Screen Awards
Katherena Vermette