What Value will digital storytelling provide locals?

Stories of Haida Gwaii are often told by outsiders. Locals face two issues that prevent them from creating inspiring media projects and sharing their stories: limited physical resources and opportunities for capacity-building. Projects like SGaawaay K'uuna Edge of The Knife are testaments to our community’s strength and talent, and have catalyzed community interest in more film-making and skill-building.

The Haida Gwaii Media Collective was created to empower locals to tell their own stories through film and other digital media. We want to support creators in taking control of every aspect of the production process: recording, collaborating, editing, producing, and distributing. Digital storytelling allows community members to explore their culture and language more deeply, gain versatile skills, strengthen relationships with each other, and build vibrant creative and cultural economics on Haida Gwaii.

How will all communities of Haida Gwaii be included?

We strive to make Media Collective workshops, mentorship opportunities, and equipment rentals accessible to all communities on Haida Gwaii. We are particularly focusing on HlGaagilda Skidegate and Gaw Tlagee Old Massett to address structural exclusion and other barriers that members of these communities face in the media production space. Workshops and training opportunities are equally distributed between the north and south-end of Haida Gwaii, and are filmed and shared on our website for everyone to access. Equipment is housed in the south-end and transported on-demand to the north-end, until we expand our team and find an adequate second storage facility.

How long will this Initiative be active?

This initiative was funded in March 2021 as a 2-year pilot project through Grand Challenges Canada’s Indigenous Innovation Initiative program. If the initiative proves to be beneficial for our community upon review in March 2023, we will secure funding to keep it active, and develop revenue streams to support its operation.

who can participate in the media collective?

Media Collective activities are open to all residents of Haida Gwaii, as well as creators off-island who are collaborating with or mentoring locals. Our primary targets for participation are Indigenous people and members of the 2SLGBTTQQIA+ community, since there are deep structural inequalities in the media production space that especially affect these communities.

when will equipment be available to rent?

Film equipment is available for rental starting in January 2022. It is housed in Saahlinda Naay the Haida Gwaii Museum in HlGaagilda Skidegate, and transported from there to the north-end of Haida Gwaii to ensure equal access. We are starting with one rental-house location and will expand our reach and collaborations as the project develops.

Where did the funding come from?

The Media Collective is funded by Grand Challenges Canada through their Indigenous Innovation Initiative program, which primarily aims to address systemic barriers faced by Indigenous women and 2SLGBTTQQIA+ people. It was envisioned and funded in Spring 2021 as a 2-year pilot project, and we hope to secure funding for ongoing operation in the community.