The Aboriginal Film and Video Art Alliance (formerly known as the First Nations Film Makers Alliance) was established in April 1991 in Edmonton at a gathering of artists. Its mission was to enhance, promote, and preserve First Nation's culture through the production and distribution of film and video. In 1993, it formed a partnership with The Banff Centre to establish and develop the Aboriginal Arts program within the principles, values and traditions of Aboriginal self-government. From 1993 to 1998, the AFVAA and The Banff Centre collaborated on a number of projects together; some of the projects included the Self-Government Public Service Announcement videos, From Drum Beats to Drum Bytes Symposium, the TruthSayers seminar, and the Winter Village festivals.
The AFVAA was dissolved on March 14, 1998 and replaced by a new body called the Aboriginal Arts Advisory Council. The new Council was deemed more representative of the discipline of programs established by the Aboriginal Arts program at The Banff Centre, which included music, dance, film and video, visual arts, and writing and publishing. The new Council also adopted the principles of self-government.
Series consists of four subseries: AFVAA Annuals (AB1a.), AFVAA Projects (AB1b.), AFVAA Grants (AB1c.) and AFVAA video recordings (AB1d.).