The Power of the Pin: Stories of the Moose Hide Campaign

Tickets: $25 - please purchase on the Hot Docs website HERE

Details: Saturday, April 11 at 2:30pm - Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema (506 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON)

For too long, the burden of not only experiencing Intimate Partner Violence but also advocating to end it has rested on the shoulders of women. When the began fifteen years ago, it started with a simple but powerful question: Where are all the men in this vital work?

The Moose Hide Campaign invites men and boys - and all Canadians - into conversation about ending violence against women, children and all those along the gender continuum. Setting aside shame and blame, the movement calls people to healing journeys grounded in respect, responsibility, and care for one another.

At the heart of the campaign is the gifting of land-based medicine in the form of the . Gifted freely, the pin represents a personal commitment to honour, respect, and protect women and children. Over the past fifteen years, millions of pins have been shared across the country, sparking countless conversations about how individuals and communities can work together to create safety.

Last summer, a film crew travelled through Ontario to explore what has happened when this land-based medicine meets people in their everyday lives. In two powerful short documentaries, they gathered the stories of two men whose lives were changed after encountering the moose hide pin at critical moments in their journeys. These films reveal deeply personal reflections on responsibility, healing, and the courage it takes to walk a different path. Together, their stories explore how something as simple as a piece of moose hide can open the door to transformation and accountability.

This special event premieres A Bridge Across and A Tree Remains in the home province where these stories take place. The afternoon brings together the men featured in the films, the filmmakers who captured their journeys, and members of the Moose Hide Campaign family.

The gathering will include a screening of both films, followed by a conversation with the documentary subjects and the creative team. The event will also feature a ceremonial moment honouring the leadership and courage of the men whose stories are shared. All are invited to join this afternoon of storytelling, reflection, and community as the films explore the power of land-based medicine and the role each person can play in creating a future free from violence.

The Hot Docs Cinema is wheelchair accessible. For additional accessibility inquiries, please reach out to [email protected].

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Moose Hide Campaign