June 21 is also National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD), a day of cultural significance for First Nations, Inuit and Métis. It is observed on the 21st of June to recognize the summer solstice, the day of maximum daylight, and its importance to Indigenous Peoples. This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
To access more resources, including the history of National Indigenous Peoples Day and events you can participate in across Canada, click here.
Click here to learn more about the meaning and cultural significance of National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Little Bird
Little Bird is a six-part limited series that explores universal themes of resilience in the face of trauma and loss. At the age of five, Bezhig Little Bird is removed from her home on the Long Pine Reserve in Saskatchewan and adopted into a Montreal Jewish family, becoming Esther Rosenblum. Now in her 20s, as she begins to track down her siblings and unravel the mystery behind her adoption, Bezhig is forced to reckon with who she is and who she wants to become. Little Bird was nominated for 19 Canadian Screen Awards this year, eventually winning six, including for Best Dramatic Series. Read more about the making of Little Bird in this powerful interview with Director Zoe Hopkins, who describes the healing process involved in making the series and why trust and resources need to be given to Indigenous creators to tell their stories.
Night Raiders
Director Danis Goulet’s feature debut is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama with an underlying critique of Canada’s past. Set in 2043 after a post-war North America, Niska (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers) joins a band of Indigenous vigilantes to save her daughter Waseese from a military-run institution in a powerful allegory of residential schools. Danis Goulet was recently named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural Canadian Women in Entertainment Power List.
Listen to our Wider Lens podcast episode with Danis Goulet and Slash/Back Director Nyla Innuksuk.
Slash/Back
Teenage Maika wakes up to a typical summer day in Pangnirtung, Nunavut: no school, no cool boys (well… except one), and 24-hour sunlight. For Maika and her ragtag friends, the usual summer is suddenly not in the cards when they discover an alien invasion threatening Pang. But these teenagers have been underestimated their whole lives, and using makeshift weapons, hunting skills, and their horror movie knowledge, they’re about to show the aliens that “you don’t fuck with the girls from Pang.” ImagineNATIVE will be hosting a special Indigenous People’s Month screening of Slash/Back at The Well in Toronto on June 29.
Listen to our Wider Lens podcast episode with Danis Goulet and Slash/Back Director Nyla Innuksuk.
Rosie
The feature film debut of Métis Writer, Director and Actor Gail Maurice brings us to the fringes of 1980s Montreal as seen from the perspective of a sweet and suddenly orphaned Indigenous girl thrust into the care of her tough, street-smart aunt Frédérique. Fred introduces Rosie to her best friends Flo and Mo, two glamorous, two-spirit sex workers. Together, these outsiders build a home with their chosen family. Gail is currently working on her next film, Blood Lines, developing the comedy series Rez in the City, and will appear in the upcoming series Don’t Even, created by Amber Sekowan-Daniels and directed by Zoe Hopkins. You can also catch Rosie at The Well June 29th as part of ImagineNATIVE’s Indigenous People’s Month programming.
Watch on Prime Video Superchannel
Rent on AppleTV, Google Play, or YouTube
Letterkenny
This beloved comedy series about the citizens of the small town of Letterkenny and their problems featured a variety of hilarious, endearing, and fully fleshed-out Indigenous characters, with the de facto leader of the Native crew Tanis played by Actor and DGC Ontario Director Kaniehtiio Horn. Letterkenny showrunners and co-creators Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney collaborated extensively with the Indigenous cast and crew in order to make sure characters were portrayed authentically, down to the smallest details like body language, inside jokes, and wardrobe.
Letterkenny recently wrapped its final season in late 2023 after seven years of critical acclaim. Check out our group interview with the DGC Ontario Members who played a crucial role in shaping this beloved show from its humble beginnings to its current reign as one of the most successful Canadian shows ever.
Stellar
Directed by Darlene Naponse, Stellar focuses on the dreamy romantic connection of She and He, two Indigenous lovers who meet and connect amid a natural catastrophe happening outside of their peaceful Northern Ontario bar. Together, as the landscape is destroyed and reshaped around them, they heal historical trauma and explore the real meaning of love and life. Darlene was nominated for a 2024 Northern Ontario Music and Film Award award for Stellar.
Ever Deadly
DGC Ontario’s Chelsea McMullan co-directed this documentary with Tanya Tagaq, whose improvisational performances connect to the land where she grew up in Nunavut. Ever Deadly weaves concert footage with stunning sequences filmed on location in Nunavut, seamlessly bridging landscapes, stories, and songs with pain, anger, and triumph – all through the expressions of Tanya Tagaq, one of the most innovative musical performers of our time.
Beautiful Scars
Tom Wilson, the subject of this powerful documentary by DGC Ontario Director Shane Belcourt, spent decades touring the world as a successful musician before learning late in life about his true Indigenous origins. Based on Wilson’s memoir of the same name, Beautiful Scars explores the Canadian musician’s discovery of his Mohawk heritage and the web of family secrets that he had unwittingly been at the center of since his childhood. Beautiful Scars premiered at the 2022 Hot Docs Film Festival and was one of the top ten films considered for a Hot Docs Audience Award.
Watch on YouTube via TVO
Wildhood*
*DGC Ontario Sound Post-only
This coming-of-age story focuses on Mi’kmaw two-spirit teenager Link (Phillip Lewitski), who flees a volatile situation at home with an abusive father, surrounded by racist bullies. With his step-brother Travis (Avery Winters-Anthony) in tow, Link learns to connect with his culture and discover his sexuality, all while staying two steps ahead of his father. Director Bretten Hannam is a two-spirit Mi’kma’ki filmmaker living in Kespukwitk, Nova Scotia, whose films deal with themes of 2SLGBTQ identity, community, culture, and language. Wildhood was an official selection of TIFF ‘21 and was named one of TIFF’s Canadian Top 10 films for 2022.
Coming Soon
North Of North (Premieres Winter 2025 on CBC)
After a spontaneous — and extremely public — exit from her marriage, young Inuk mother Siaja has to find a job and a place for her and her young daughter to live, and fast. Siaja’s dreams of a fresh start collide with some long-kept secrets in a small Arctic town where everybody knows your business. This upcoming DGC Ontario comedy series from CBC, Netflix and APTN was created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril.
Don’t Even (Premieres 2024 on Crave)
Set in late ’90s Winnipeg, this urban Indigenous, coming-of-age dramedy follows two teenage girls in the summer after their final year of high school. These best friends from childhood face an uncertain future as they grapple with staying true to their community or leaving Winnipeg to chart their own destinies. Don’t Even is created by Amber Sekowan-Daniels, with all episodes directed by DGC Ontario Member Zoe Hopkins.
