Join us this month during Anishnabe Azejicigan (May 18th at 7pm EDT) for a discussion about Self-Identification, the Pretendian & Institutional Accountability with Elder & Artist Albert Dumont, Producer/Host/Director & Artist Tamara Bell and Indigenous Law Scholar & Researcher Sabre Pictou Lee. The gathering will be moderated by Algonquin Knowledge Carrier Monique Manatch.
Sign up to attend by filling out this form
SPEAKERS
Albert Dumont is Ottawa’s new English Poet Laureaute for the next two years. He has served his community on the Grandparents Counsel for Well Living House, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto since September 2017. He was one of 13 Elders on the Elders Advisory Committee of the Ministry of the Attorney General from October 2016 to 2020. He worked as Elder for the Parole Board of Canada at Elder Assisted Hearings from November 2013 to March 2017. He was employed by Correctional Services Canada for three years as a spiritual advisor for the Indigenous men incarcerated at Millhaven Institution’s J Unit located near Kingston, ON. In January 2017, he received the DreamKEEPERS Citation for Outstanding Leadership. Albert has dedicated his life to promoting Indigenous spirituality and healing and to protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples particularly those as they affect the young.
Tamara Bell is a Producer/Host/Director and Artist. Her artistic passions stem directly from her Haida roots and Raven clan moiety. The magical Raven, a central character often celebrated as a rebellious anti-hero, is also a precocious storyteller. In many ways, Ms. Bell’s own career as a filmmaker has been marked by a penchant for inspiring and dramatic stories. Rather than shying away from contentious issues, Ms. Bell has consistently steered toward them, understanding that the best drama—and the best art—tend to emerge out of opposing viewpoints.
Ms. Bell attended multiple colleges and universities and it was this experience that sparked her interest in cinema and the arts. Her recent productions include several award-winning feature films and television series. Yet Ms. Bell’s focus is not on awards and accolades or even personal achievement. She credits her success to her strong ties with the entire Indigenous community and her deep and meaningful relationships with various Indigenous mentors and colleagues. Decades of experience in film and television has given Ms. Bell the confidence to explore all aspects of Indigenous culture and tradition—even those less well understood outside the community. Her documentary Sasquatch’n offers a case in point. In the course of producing the film, Ms. Bell was able to access three separate Indigenous Secret Societies dedicated to tracking, and understanding, the legendary Sasquatch (also known as “Bigfoot”). Prior to Ms. Bell’s arrival, these groups had been closed to outsiders. Ms. Bell was able to learn and report information about the Sasquatch, whose place in popular culture owes everything to power and vitality of Indigenous myth. As a Sundancer and a member of the Native American church, Ms. Bell’s soul and spirit are animated by the sovereign voice of her ancestors.
Shows produced by Ms. Bell have appeared in the United States on PBS, FNX and in Canada on APTN, BCTV, and Joy TV. Again, while Ms. Bell has won several awards for her work, she goes out of her way to give credit to those within the Indigenous community who have helped make her success possible. Ms. Bell has won a Leo Award in 2005 for “Best Information Series” and was nominated for two Leo Awards in 2006 for “Best Screenwriting.” In 2007 she received a Golden Feather Award, and in 2010, she won an award (sponsored by Isuma TV) for a story on a Lakota healer. In 2019 Ms. Bell was included in Netflix’s list of 100 Diverse Voices in Canada, and in 2020 she won in the “Best Documentary” category at the Mediterranean Film Festival Cannes. She was also nominated for an award at the Seattle Film Festival in 2020.
Sabre Pictou Lee is Mi’kmaq from Eel River Bar First Nation in northern New Brunswick. Sabre is an experienced Indigenous liaison and researcher. She has worked in Indigenous-related program development, facilitation, and policy development and analysis.
Sabre has worked on research and training projects with the Assembly of First Nations, Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, Carleton University, First Voices Week at Concordia University, law firms, and many First Nation communities across Turtle Island. In her undergrad, Sabre focused on Indigenous Art History. After completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts, she transitioned to specializing in Indigenous legal traditions and Aboriginal Rights in her Masters. Sabre’s recent projects include a national report on the impacts of cannabis legalization in Indigenous communities where she became well-versed with on-reserve cannabis related legal dynamics and health policy.
With her facilitation and mediation expertise Sabre works to build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations. M.A. Indigenous and Canadian Studies (Carleton University); B.F.A. Art History and Indigenous Studies (Concordia University); current Juris Doctor of Law student (Dalhousie University).
