My childhood was less than ideal and I struggled in a lot of ways. Things started to fall into place once I found out I had been adopted. At 16 I met my biological father Rick, a charming and charismatic Haida man. Through him, I got to know this other side of myself and my family. I met my Nuni, Dolores Davis, and discovered the beauty of the Haida culture.

 

In 2016, I asked my Nuni for a blanket so I could fully participate in my culture. “I’ll give you one if you make it,” she said. I took it one step further. Not only will I make the blanket, I thought, I’ll make a movie of it. My first film, Woman Who Returns, was aired on CBC Gem in 2017 and helped me embrace my culture and love of story telling. From then on, film was my only way forward. 

 

In the decade I’ve been making films, my lens has become wider. Filmmaking has taught me compassion and how to listen. Most importantly film has deepend my respect for the human connection. I’ve had much to learn along the way and have much more to learn in years to come. But one thing I’m certain of is that we learn in stories, we remember in stories, and there are many yet to come.