InDigital Insights

Mel Izanami was born and raised in Mexico, where he became aware of deep contradictions in his identity—contradictions that, over time, shaped not only his academic development but also his experience as an immigrant in Argentina. In this episode, he discusses how this relates to his artistic practice, and how technology can allow us to explore identity and culture in a more open way.  NOTE: Mel p...

Dr. Jules Koostachin is an award-winning producer & director who has created numerous documentaries and original narrative films. In this episode, she chats about the importance of story, the protocols surrounding them, and what it means to become part of the next generation of aunties. Many of her films can be found online through her Vimeo page or various streaming services.  Jules' Web...

Liz Barron joins Monique to discuss issues faced by Indigenous artists relating to the creation of their art and the protocols around art-making. Liz is a Producer, Consultant and Arts Manager based in Winnipeg, where she co-founded the Urban Shaman Gallery. Liz has managed several arts and culture not-for-profits, and works with CARFAC, where she's the Indigenous Protocols Program Manager an...

 Clayton Windatt is a curator, multi-arts performer and filmmaker living and working in Ontario. As the former Executive Director of the White Water Gallery, Aboriginal Curatorial Collective and current Executive Director of the Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference, Clayton has an extensive history working in Artist-Run Culture and Community Arts. Clayton is also active in wrestling, wher...

Jonathan Dewar is the CEO of the FNIGC — the First Nations Information Governance Centre, an independent, apolitical, and technical non-profit organization operating with a special mandate from the Assembly of First Nations’ Chiefs-in-Assembly (Resolution #48, December 2009). In this episode, he chats with Monique about the work they do, the importance of data sovereignty, and how the OCAP Princip...

 In this episode of InDigital Insights , host Monique Manatch continues her conversation with artist Harley Knife . They discuss the importance of stories, identity and culture, and how he seeks to inspire the next generation through imaginative visual storytelling.  IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7686533/  ICMI is an artist-run multi-arts organization that blends fresh creativity, traditional...

In this episode of InDigital Insights , host Monique Manatch begins a conversation with artist Harley Knife following almost a decade of working in the 2D Animation industry. They discuss how he ended up in that industry, some details of his journey along the way, and how he seeks to inspire the next generation through imaginative visual storytelling.  IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7686533/  ...

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Lou-ann Neel, a multidisciplinary artist and curator. They explore her journey through the arts, her role in Indigenous cultural revitalization, and how mentorship and digital tools sustain Indigenous knowledge.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch continues her conversation with Lou-ann Neel. Together, they examine the challenges of Indigenous identity and the “pretendian” phenomenon, reflecting on how colonial systems have shaped recognition and belonging. Lou-ann shares insights on lived experience, community claiming, and reciprocal citizenship, while also addressing systemic in...

Artist and cultural advocate Lou-ann Neel shares her journey from discovering traditional art as a child to shaping Indigenous governance, copyright reform, and repatriation practices. She reflects on the challenges of working within colonial systems, her decades of nonprofit leadership, and the importance of truth before reconciliation.

Emily Brascoupé-Hoefler, a mixed media and mural artist from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, joins host Monique Manatch to discuss her journey, family collaborations, and the importance of Algonquin art in contemporary spaces. From murals at the Bytown Museum to her permanent installation at the National Arts Centre, Emily shares how tradition, land, and technology shape her work and the collective she...

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch sits down with Skawennati, a Mohawk multimedia artist whose work envisions Indigenous peoples in the future through machinima, digital fashion, and storytelling. They discuss her acclaimed exhibition Welcome to the Dreamhouse at the National Gallery of Canada, her reimagining of Haudenosaunee creation stories like She Falls for Ages and G...

Jessica Brown, founder of Ujarak Media, shares her inspiring path from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to directing award-winning documentary series for Bell TV1. As a single mother and Inuit filmmaker, she uplifts Indigenous voices through powerful storytelling, remote productions in the Torngat Mountains, and hands-on mentorship of youth in communities like Nain. Her work blends cultural authenticity, co...

Kaija Heitland, a Red River Métis artist and entrepreneur from Vancouver Island, shares her journey from tattooing to founding Indigenous Nouveau, a business focused on accessible Indigenous art, ribbon skirts, fabric design, and community empowerment. She discusses Indigenous identity, entrepreneurship, data sovereignty, and ethical digital practices in Indigenous design.

This episode highlights the vibrant creativity and language revitalization work at Kji-Wikuom Studios in Eskasoni. Host Monique Manatch speaks with Jaiden Johnson, Tristan Johnson, and Isaac Jeddore-Gould about how their passion for media and storytelling led them to careers in digital filmmaking, game development, and cultural preservation. They discuss their involvement in producing Mi’kmaq-lang...

Simon Brascoupé, Algonquin artist and educator, discusses the deep cultural roots of Indigenous art, its community-centered and land-based nature, and the importance of birch bark biting, duality, and storytelling in Anishinaabe traditions. He shares personal reflections, family collaborations, and the evolution of traditional practices through digital techniques.

Melanie Sampson, an Indigenous artist and former radio host, shares her creative journey from Labrador to Nova Scotia. From geology to radio to launching a card and digital art business, she discusses turning a lifelong hobby into a sustainable career. Melanie reflects on Indigenous connection, artistic expression, and the power of community-driven creativity.

Suzanne Brant, a Haudenosaunee visual artist and president of FNTI, shares how art, culture, and creation teachings are inseparable in her life and work. From interpreting sky world teachings through beadwork-inspired dot paintings to reflecting on cradleboards, wampum, and ancestral knowledge, Suzanne emphasizes the importance of visual storytelling and intergenerational healing through Indigenou...

Gloria Jane Bell shares her research into the Vatican's hidden collection of Indigenous art and belongings. From sacred wampum belts to Sundance masks taken during the Potlatch Ban, she highlights issues of colonial theft, misrepresentation, and the need for Indigenous-led restitution efforts.

In this episode, host Monique Manatch speaks with Maritza Louis, a seasoned Indigenous character modeler currently working at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Maritza shares her 20+ year journey through animation, visual effects, and game development, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous representation, STEAM education, and cultural protocol in tech and media spaces. From growing up in the Okana...

In this episode, Louise Profeit-LeBlanc, a storyteller from Nacho Nyak Dun, shares her life’s work preserving and sharing Indigenous oral traditions. She recounts her early experiences recording stories from elders for Yukon land claims, the founding of the Yukon International Storytelling Festival, and the importance of different types of stories—ancestral, regional, community, family, and person...

In this episode of InDigital Insights, Mi’kmaw storyteller Ivan J. White joins host Monique Manatch to explore the philosophical and political dimensions of Indigenous knowledge, AI, and intergenerational survival. They discuss the limits of artificial intelligence in replicating creativity, the risks of commodifying Indigenous culture, and the long-term effects of colonial systems. Ivan shares st...

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Ivan J. White—Mi’kmaw musician, writer, filmmaker, and storyteller from Flat Bay, Newfoundland. Ivan reflects on his path into storytelling, rooted in a critical moment during school when colonial narratives misrepresented Mi’kmaw history. Through writing, music, and filmmaking, Ivan works to preserve community memory and recl...

In this episode of InDigital Insights, Monique Manatch interviews Alanis Obomsawin, discussing the power of storytelling and its connection to Indigenous languages and cultures. They explore how traditional oral storytelling techniques vary among nations and reflect cultural distinctiveness, the challenges of translating Indigenous concepts into Western frameworks, and the role of respect and list...

In this episode of InDigital Insights, Algonquin Anishinaabe author, artist, and advocate Lynn Gehl joins host Monique Manatch to discuss Indigenous knowledge, artistic practice, and resistance through creative expression. Lynn shares her journey as an artist and activist, including her legal battle in Gehl v. Canada, her exploration of traditional forms like petroforms, wampum belts, and birch ba...