Podcast series gives Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth chance to host and produce

A new podcast series puts Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in the roles of hosts and producers, and pairs them up with Indigenous movers and shakers.

"Podcasting seems to be the new method in which we highlight who we are as people, and how we highlight what's happening within society," said Sean Vanderklis, the curriculum developer and lead program facilitator for Indigenous 150+.

Indigenous 150+ was started by Joanne Fishburne and Good Influence Films as a film series in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action. 

Over the past year Vanderklis, one half of the duo behind the podcast One Dish, One Mic and one of this year's recipients of the CJF-CBC Indigenous Fellowship, has been developing and producing the podcasting series and training program. It was sponsored by RBC and Inspirit Foundations.

Vanderklis, who is Anishinaabe from Curve Lake First Nation, said the program gave over 20 youth from across the country the opportunity to work on an episode of their choice.

Participants were taught the basics of podcasting, worked on their projects for just over three months and were paid a stipend of $130 per episode, up to four episodes.

"It started off as a concept of bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth together to have these grand conversations about reconciliation and about podcasting in general," said Vanderklis.

"We had a strong focus on narrative sovereignty."

The first eight episodes were released on Indigenous Peoples Day, and there are plans to release over 50 episodes that feature community champions like author Jesse Thistle, director Tasha Hubbard, and author Drew Hayden Taylor.

An opportunity to learn about each other

Dave Beverly-Foster lives in the Grey-Bruce region of Ontario, which is located on Saugeen Ojibway territory. He is a published author and joined the program on a whim.

As a non-Indigenous person, he said the program has been a good learning journey for him.

"I was involved in making these podcasts and every time I listen to one, I learn so much about Indigenous people's experiences in Canada," said Beverly-Foster.

"As Canadians, we have a responsibility to understand one another. But especially as settlers on Indigenous territory, we haven't been listening good enough."

One of his favourite memories of the program is having a group discussion with Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth over Hubbard's film nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, a film about Colten Boushie and the trial of a Saskatchewan farmer in his death.

He said the discussion was a safe space and allowed for him to learn more about the experiences of Indigenous people.

Through the program, he was able to interview a knowledge keeper in Saugeen, as well as actor and producer Jennifer Podemski.

Podemski said there is a big market out there for Indigenous youth who know how to create content.

"I think specifically for Indigenous youth, there is so much available in terms of accessing platforms, so much more than ever," said Podemski.

"The only way to fill it is with the people who understand technology and the process of how to tell a story and how to create content."

Podemski is featured in two episodes on the series where she talks about her work and advocacy in the Canadian film industry.

The episodes can be found online here.