Watch The Longhouse Tales

The Longhouse Tales from Toonscape is an animated comedy series that was released in the year 2000. The show revolves around the Longhouse family and their daily misadventures. The series is set in a fictional town in Canada and is aimed at children aged between 6-12 years.

This show is a traditional family sitcom, but with a twist. The Longhouse family is a First Nations family, and the show is an attempt to bring their culture to the forefront of children’s entertainment. The show employs cultural-specific humour, which may be hard for people who are not familiar with the First Nations culture to grasp. Nevertheless, the show is filled with humour that will appeal to youngsters and adults alike.

The main characters of the show are the Longhouse family. The patriarch of the family is Colin Longhouse, who is a celebrated artist. He is voiced by Graham Greene, a famous First Nations actor. We also have Colin’s wife, Louise, who is a local school teacher. She is voiced by Tania Kelly, and her character is based on her actual likeness. Colin and Louise have three children, Maureen, Tommy, and Teddy. Maureen is the eldest of the siblings, and her character is the most serious of the three. Tommy is a bit of a rascal and is always up to mischief, and Teddy is still a baby in diapers.

The show's a typical episode involves the Longhouse family getting into a tricky situation that they try to solve as a family. The children face typical school problems, and Louise has to overcome the many obstacles that come with being a teaching in a First Nations school. Colin, on the other hand, faces peculiar problems with his artwork, mainly when his artwork is misunderstood or misinterpreted by people outside his culture. We also get to see the Longhouse family partake in celebrations specific to their culture, like the Powwow, which is a time of dancing and meeting up with loved ones.

The show is designed to teach children about First Nation culture, with a specific focus on the Haudenosaunee tribe. It does this by featuring everyday aspects of First Nations culture that are woven into the fabric of the show’s narrative. Each episode features stories and teachings that are passed down through generations of First Nations people. The show uses traditional First Nations art to create a vibrant and inviting world for children to explore.

The Longhouse Tales of Toonscape is unique for a couple of reasons. One of them is that it is the first animated television series in Canadian history to focus specifically on First Nations culture. This makes it an important landmark in Canadian history. The show was created by Teresa MacInnes and Amos Adetuyi. They worked with an all-First Nations writing team, which gave the show an authenticity that is not found in many other depictions of First Nations culture in popular media.

Another interesting aspect of the show is its animation style. The show's creators use a type of animation called Toonshade, which is an old-fashioned animation technique that gives the characters an appearance similar to traditional First Nations artwork. This technique brings the characters and their environment to life in a unique way. The animation style is highly detailed and designed to appeal to children.

Overall, The Longhouse Tales from Toonscape is a charming animated comedy that is unlike any other show. It features a lovable family and a setting that is both welcoming and authentic. The show's creators have done an excellent job of weaving traditional First Nations culture into the show while keeping it accessible for children. The show is an excellent way to introduce children to First Nations culture and is well worth watching for both children and adults alike.

The Longhouse Tales is a series that ran for 1 seasons (26 episodes) between and on Toonscape