Award-winning writer/director Tracey Deer
Award-winning writer/director and co-creator Tracey Deer, of the hit television dramedy Mohawk Girls will be visiting Owen Sound to present her film Club Native as well as speak about her career as a film and television writer and director. The event will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday December 4th, 2019 at the Owen Sound & Grey Bruce Union Public Library with an opening by Saugeen First Nation Elder, Shirley John.
Deer is the co-creator of the hit series Mohawk Girls and was at the helm of 5 award-winning seasons produced by Rezolution Pictures for APTN. Deer describes the series as “Sex in the City” in a Native setting. Deer’s career continues to take leaps and bounds. She recently wrapped and is in post-production on her debut feature film Beans, a coming-of-age story of a young Mohawk girl during the Oka Crisis that was fuelled by her own experiences. She was also recently a co-executive producer and writer on Netflix/CBCs third season of Anne with an E.
The upcoming event is part of INDIGENOUS150+ a film and conversation series dedicated to putting Indigenous voices centre stage, which was launched at the Roxy Theatre, in Owen Sound in 2017. The series was founded as a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action in partnership with M’Wikwedong Native Friendship Centre, Good Influence Films, the City of Owen Sound and other local community members.
Club Native examines the present-day reality of indigenous identity. With moving stories from a range of characters from her Kahnawake Reserve, Kanienʼkehá:ka (Mohawk) filmmaker, Tracey Deer, reveals the divisive legacy of more than a hundred years of discriminatory and sexist government policy to expose the lingering “blood quantum” ideals, attitudes and outright racism that threaten to destroy the fabric of her community. The film raises questions faced by people of many ethnicities across the world: What roles do bloodline and culture play in determining identity?
“The issues of identity, belonging, and what it means to be Indigenous are ever evolving as communities still wrestle with the destructive and paternalistic policies of the Indian Act. Even though I made Club Native over 10 years ago, the brave personal stories of four Mohawk women on the front lines of this debate is still highly relevant as it’s important to humanize a topic that too often remains theoretical.” -Tracey Deer
The event is presented in partnership with M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library, and Good Influence Films with the support of the Community Foundation Grey Bruce and the Ontario Arts Council.
In Owen Sound, INDIGENOUS 150+ will be presenting a screening of Club Native, on Wednesday December 4th, 2019 at Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library, 824 First Avenue West, Owen Sound, from 6:30 p.m.to 9:00 p.m. (PG) w/ Special Guest award winning writer/director Tracey Deer. Advance tickets will be $13 and tickets at door will be $16.
For information go to the Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/748926438915865.
Tracey Deer has worked with the CBC, NFB and numerous companies in both documentaries and drama and has just finished principal photography on her debut feature drama 'BEANS' which will be out in 2020. Deer has been honoured at TIFF with the Birks Diamond Tribute Award. She chairs the Board of Directors of Women in View, a non-profit that promotes greater diversity and balance in Canadian media, from the standpoint of employment equity, creative authority and gender representation. She has mentored emerging talent as leader of the Director Training Program at the imagine NATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival. She has also been a guest mentor at the National Screen Institute (NSI) New Indigenous Voices Program and a directing mentor for NSI’s new IndigiDocs training course.
Shirley John, aka Strong White Buffalo Woman, Elder from Saugeen First Nation, Ontario is a mother, grandmother and great grandmother and is dedicated to sharing her wisdom and knowledge through a number of educational initiatives including through Georgian College. Her greatest passion is to walk with Minobamadsawin; walk a good life, heal her lifeline plant seeds of love with all nations, all ages, and regularly attends Health and Healing Ceremonies both locally and abroad. Prior to joining Georgian College Elder Shirley John was employed as an Executive Secretary for over 20 yrs. with her Local Police Service.
INDIGENOUS 150+ is a film and conversation series, dedicated to putting Indigenous voices centre stage and is a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. It was founded in partnership with M’Wikwedong Native Culture and Resource Centre, members of Saugeen and Neyaashiiniigmiing First Nation, the Métis Nation and Good Influence Films. The series is now in 5 communities and continuing to grow through partnerships with Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, Wapikoni Mobile, ISUMA TV, Canada World Youth and HIP. To bring Indigenous150+ to your community or to get involved please visit www.Indigenous150Plus.com.
source: media release
