Tour Program
Youth Short Film Contest
The 2025 imagineNATIVE Tour has officially concluded, having reached over 20 stops across Turtle Island (Canada)! A major highlight of this journey was our Indigenous Youth Filmmaking Workshops, held in four communities. In just three days, youth participants moved from concept to creation — writing, filming, and editing original works under the mentorship of established Indigenous filmmakers. These films were then screened alongside one of our four Tour Programs at a Community Screening.
We are so proud to announce that these workshops resulted in 11 short films created by Indigenous youth:
- 5 original films from Migisi Sahgaigan (Eagle Lake), Ontario
- 4 original films from Vancouver, British Columbia
- 1 collaborative group film from St. John’s, Newfoundland
- 1 original film from Siksika, Alberta
Watch + Vote
The films created in our Indigenous Youth Filmmaking Workshops are available on the imagineNATIVE YouTube channel, where you can vote for your favourites by liking the videos! The filmmaker with the most likes on their video by February 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET will have their work screened at the 2026 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, with flights and accommodations provided.
Our Deepest Gratitude
These workshops would not have been possible without the generous spaces provided by our community partners. We extend a special thanks to: Migisi Sahgaigan (Eagle Lake First Nation) Community, Alt Hotel St. John’s, Eastern Edge Gallery, Yukonstruct Society, Yukon Theatre, Siksika First Nations Community, and CineWorks Independent Filmmakers Society.
We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated facilitators Victoria Anderson-Gardner, Jessica Brown, Trevor and Adam Solway, Whitney Horne, and Kira Doxtator; knowledge keepers Deathna Edmunds and Christine Leo; and to the tireless efforts of Morningstar Derosier, Joyce Spence, Ashley Lewis, Sophie Agnatok, Adi Sikka, and Xina Cowan for making these workshops a success.
Thank you for your ongoing support and for another successful year of Indigenous storytelling! Stay tuned in August 2026 for the opening of the next imagineNATIVE Tour.
imagineNATIVE Tour
The 2025 imagineNATIVE Tour is closed for the season.
The Tour is imagineNATIVE’s largest year-round initiative outside of our annual Festival. The imagineNATIVE Tour brings Indigenous-made film works and community engagement activities to communities across Turtle Island (Canada), curated for:
- Schools (including elementary, high school, and post-secondary)
- Workplaces
- Institutions
- Libraries
- Youth programs
- Friendship centres
- Community groups
The 2025 imagineNATIVE Tour programs offered a selection of Indigenous works from across Canada that were part of the 2025 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Official Selection. For the 2025 Tour, we were proud to present two documentary features and three short film programs suitable for three age groups; you can find more information about the program selections below.
Tour screenings are able to take place either in-person or online; imagineNATIVE works with you to help accommodate the delivery of a screening to your community.
To enhance the screenings, organizations can request an Artist Talk to accompany their booking (in-person or online) for an additional fee.
In addition to the 2025 Tour’s film programs, imagineNATIVE was excited to bring back our three-day Film + Video-Making Workshop for Indigenous youth! The workshop brings an Indigenous artist from our Festival to your community to mentor youth in creating their own short film over the course of three days. The final projects were showcased at a community screening on the last day. The workshop includes a screening of one of the Tour programs of your choice.
At the end of the Tour, all of the short films created in our workshops are made available on our website and are a part of an audience choice vote by the public; the winner’s film will be programmed in the next imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in June 2026! The selected artist will also have their travel and accommodations covered by imagineNATIVE to attend their screening at the Festival in Toronto.
Please keep an eye out for updates on our social media and newsletter for the 2026 edition of the imagineNATIVE Tour.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact programming@imagineNATIVE.org.
Please note: As proud supporters of Indigenous artists, we charge screening fees that go directly to the artist(s) for their work. However, we are happy to negotiate screening fees with Indigenous communities, organizations, institutions, and youth programs.
Tour Bookings Opening Soon
The 2025 imagineNATIVE Tour will open for bookings on August 1, 2025. Stay tuned!
The imagineNATIVE Tour programs are one of imagineNATIVE’s largest initiatives outside our annual Festival. The imagineNATIVE Tour brings Indigenous-made film works and community engagement activities to communities across Turtle Island (Canada).
After each Festival, imagineNATIVE curates a selection of Indigenous works from across Canada that will be featured as part of the upcoming imagineNATIVE Tour Programs. In 2024, we were proud to present two documentary features, and three short film programs suitable for three age groups; you can find more information about the program selections below.
Please note that as proud supporters of Indigenous artists, we charge screening fees that go directly to the artist(s) for their work. However, we are happy to negotiate screening fees with Indigenous communities, organizations, institutions, and youth programs.
The 2025 imagineNATIVE Tour was made possible with support of the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and Toronto Arts Council. Miigwetch to all of our Tour sponsors, partners, and supporters across Turtle Island!
2025 Tour Programs
Below are the programs that were offered as part of the 2025 imagineNATIVE Tour.
Feature Film Focus
Singing Back the Buffalo
Singing Back the Buffalo
Director: Tasha Hubbard (Cree)
Canada | 2024 | 98 min
English | Documentary Feature
Richly visualised and deeply uplifting, Singing Back the Buffalo is an epic reimagining of North America through the lens of buffalo consciousness and a potent dream of what is within our grasp.
Intended Audience: All ages.
Content Warning: Triggering Historical Trauma (Residential Schools, Indian Act, Sixties Scoop), Flashing/Strobing Lights
#skoden
#skoden
Director: Damien Eagle Bear (Blackfoot (Kainai))
Canada | 2025 | 76 min
English, Blackfoot | Documentary Feature
Every meme has its story. #skoden delves into the origins of NDN country’s most iconic meme to redefine the man at the center of it all, Pernell Bad Arm.
Intended Audience: Appropriate for teens, young adults, and mature audiences.
Content Warning: Triggering Historical Trauma
Short Film Focus
Family Shorts
Canada | 2025-2025 | 45 min
Bring your grandbabies to see works of whimsical animations, calls for action for future generations, and lessons to listen to your elders!
Allison Goes Berry Picking
Directors: Allison Anderson (Trondëk Hwech’in), Georgette McLoed (Trondëk Hwëch’in)
Pendleton Man
Director: Doug Winnipeg (Blackfoot)
The Lemonade Stand – Making Medicines
Director: Paul O’Bomsawin (Abénaki)
Graduation Day
Directors: Charlene Moore (Cree), Tasha Hubbard (Cree)
My Friend the Green Horse
Director(s): Alanis Obomsawin (Abénaki)
Intended Audience: Appropriate for kids and families.
Next Gen
Canada | 2024-2025 | 86 min
See films that are out of this world, legends come to life, ties to identity, connection to community, and responsibilities to uphold for our young generations.
Regalia
Director: Farrah Murdock (Anishinaabe/Cree)
Itseetamapi
Director: Adam Solway (Blackfoot)
Forest Echoes
Director: Eva Grant (St’at’imc)
Sweetgrass Rings
Director: Hector Jenkins (Anishinaabe)
Anywhere (Nooj Goji)
Director: Evelyn Pakinewatik (Anishinaabe)
My Friend Saabe
Director: Morningstar Derosier (Anishinaabe)
Intended Audience: Appropriate for teens and young adult audiences.
Content Warning: Violence, Coarse Language, MMIWG2S, Photosensitivity, Anti-Indigenous, Misogyny, Ableism
Adult Shorts
Canada | 2023-2025 | 83 min
Discover a diverse program of stories from Indigenous artists in Canada that draws connection to spirituality, identity, connection and justice in the past, present and future.
The Opening Address
Directors: Konwanahktotha Alvera Sargent (Mohawk), Jess Lowe Chaverri
Embers of Queer Joy
Director: Mary Galloway (Cowichan)
My Braid Is Beautiful – Gnaajwan Nkaadengan
Director: Larissa Wrightman (Ojibwe/Potawatomi/Tohono O’odham)
Datrin (Raven)
Director: Douglas Joe (White River First Nation)
Pidikwe (Rumble)
Director: Caroline Monnet (Anishinaabe)
Inkwo for When the Starving Return
Director: Amanda Strong (Michif/Métis)
Ohskennón:ten Owí:ra (Little Deer)
Director: Jonathan Elliott (Mohawk)
Intended Audience: Appropriate for mature audiences.
Content Warning: Adult Themes, Triggering Historical Trauma (Residential Schools)
2025 Audience Size + Pricing
Review the pricing of the 2025 imagineNATIVE Tour programs below.
| Program | 1-50 Audience Members | 51-150 Audience Members | 151-300 Audience Members | 301-500 Audience Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Singing Back the Buffalo |
$918.84 |
$1,071.24 |
$1,344.83 |
$1,709.62 |
|
#skoden |
$898.37 |
$1,009.82 |
$1,222.00 |
$1,504.89 |
|
Family Shorts |
$1,623.30 |
$1,585.19 |
$1,708.03 |
$1,871.81 |
|
Next Gen |
$1,954.85 |
$1,994.92 |
$2,235.01 |
$2,555.13 |
|
Adult Shorts |
$2,264.53 |
$2,279.01 |
$2,510.73 |
$2,819.68 |
These fees take into consideration Artist Fees, platform streaming fees, and administration fees. Prices are subject to change per booking.