Walking into the Unknown

VisionMaker on the Road Home | Screening Application

Emmy nominated documentary, "Walking into the Unknown", traces the intimate journey of a middle aged American Indian male through the health care system as he gains a deeper understanding of himself and the health risks he faces. More »

Program Length: 57 minutes
Production Staff: Producer: Ivy Vainio (Ojibwe); Director: Nate Maydole
Production Companies: Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
The Website for Walking into the Unknown
Format: DVD
Public Broadcast Release: October 2010

Dr. Arne Vainio is an Ojibwe physician who works on the Fond du Lac Reservation in northern Minnesota. Frustrated by middle-aged Native men not coming in for health screenings, he came to the realization that he was also avoiding the necessary screenings. The program is based on Dr. Arne Vainio’s 49th and 50th years of life, a critical turning point in the lives of many American Indian males when it is important to become earnestly involved in finding out more about the ways in which their health and well being are at risk and developing ways to practice healthier choices.