iNdigital

At its core, imagineNATIVE’s mandate is to respect story in every form: the integrity, intention, and perspective of artists as channeled through screen-based storytelling. Over more than two decades, imagineNATIVE has played a crucial role in promoting Indigenous-made media by developing platforms for artists to assert their voice, express their perspectives and share their cultures.

Following these successes for film, our next step is creating an ecosystem where new media practitioners can experiment and thrive. This means creating opportunities for maximum inclusion across the spectrum of media, building capacity within interactive programming, and cultivating talent through professional and creative development initiatives.

The Digital + Interactive submissions we receive are as diverse as the communities we serve: solo and social VR, mixed reality, XR, video games, interactive fiction, and web-based experiences. The stories channeled through these media are just as varied; they are grounded in the teachings of the past, speaking to contemporary perspectives, and looking ahead to vibrant Indigenous futures. We cannot anticipate what new art forms will emerge to help us tell our stories, but we can create enriching spaces for them to bud and blossom. The shift in recent years to expand imagineNATIVE’s online offering is centered around accessibility and reduction of barriers. The goal is to create a space to imagine new futures and creative possibilities. This shift is bringing innovative forms of media to new audiences and allowing Indigenous perspectives to impact emerging platforms.

There are conceptual and practical challenges associated with this undertaking: Canada’s digital divide highlights the lack of basic internet access for many Indigenous communities as well as the unbalanced nature of digital literacy across different age groups. We are frequently confronted with this question: how can we navigate these radically different and layered realms while keeping a firm foundation in our cultural worldviews?

As with every initiative, it is imperative we approach this undertaking responsibly and continue to care for our communities. Cutting edge does not mean cut-throat. Instead, we approach technology and media as keys to connect locally and across Nations. These tools allow us to stay inspired, to flourish in contemporary dialogues, and to build collaboratively towards our imagined futures. It is with these tools and a flexible, open-hearted approach that we engage with tradition – we are shaping it to meet us where we are and to carry forward.