On the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, ACTRA Toronto is sharing a number of resources that support Indigenous stories and storytellers. We encourage you to visit, learn, participate, and share.
For those in need of support, the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available 24-hours-a-day at 1-866-925-4419.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission have made 94 calls to action in order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation. Unfortunately, most have yet to be fully implemented. Please read the calls to action here.
Indigenous Storytelling, Festivals and Media
- Shine Network – An Indigenous owned not-for-profit offering professional development, advocacy, consulting, and mentorship for Indigenous women in the screen-sector.
- Indigenous Curatorial Collective – a non-profit organization invested in Indigenous creative sovereignty.
- imagineNATIVE – imagineNATIVE promotes Indigenous-made media by developing platforms for artists to assert their voices, express their perspectives, and share their cultures.
- Indigenous Screen Office – Expanding the opportunity, reach and impact of Indigenous storytellers in Canada.
- Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival – Presenting the best of Indigenous film & media arts from around the world
- APTN – the World’s First National Indigenous Broadcaster.
- Weengushk International Film Festival – an Indigenous-run independent film festival in Northern Ontario and the first film festival on Manitoulin Island.
- Reel Youth – Media empowerment project supporting youth, adults & orgs to create & distribute films reflecting their vision for positive change.
Industry Events & Initiatives
- On September 30th, in partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, APTN will be holding a special one-hour commemorative gathering at LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa. Learn more. The event will be broadcast live on APTN. Additionally, APTN will broadcast 35 hours of special programming to honour residential, day and boarding school survivors and their families.
- Asinabka festival is holding screening of BEANS with filmmaker Tracey Deer in attendance, followed by a space for reflection and discussion outside by the fire from 4pm-7:30pm this Friday September 30th. Free event – learn more.
- Shine Network have recently launched a bursary – please donate.
- PACT: from the Shine Network and NSI, this is an online learning course designed to provide non-Indigenous people in the film and television sector with cultural humility and competency training to prepare them for working with Indigenous productions and content – learn more.
- imagineNATIVE Short Lab Mentorship: applications are open closing on October 7 – learn more.
- Indigiqueer and Two Spirit Cinema: On October 16, Toronto Queer Film Festival and the Indigenous Curatorial Collective are hosting an online screening of eight films created by Indigiqueer and Two-Spirit filmmakers – learn more.
- NSI RBC Emerging Indigenous Filmmaker Award, Financial support and mentorship for you, your project and / or career goals. Applications are currently open – learn more.
- Indigenous Women in Media: A digital Symposium hosted by Jennifer Podemski – learn more.
- The Indigenous150+ Truth and Reconciliation Podcast Playlist is a special collection of episodes that provide insights into the legacy and impact of residential schools. Listen now.
