InDigital Insights

Emily Brascoupé-Hoefler, a mixed media and mural artist from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, joins host Monique Manatch to discuss her journey, family collaborations, and the importance of Algonquin art in contemporary spaces. From murals at the Bytown Museum to her permanent installation at the National Arts Centre, Emily shares how tradition, land, and technology shape her work and the collective she formed with her sisters.

Jessica Brown, founder of Ujarak Media, shares her inspiring path from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to directing award-winning documentary series for Bell TV1. As a single mother and Inuit filmmaker, she uplifts Indigenous voices through powerful storytelling, remote productions in the Torngat Mountains, and hands-on mentorship of youth in communities like Nain. Her work blends cultural authenticity, community engagement, and cinematic vision—paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

This episode highlights the vibrant creativity and language revitalization work at Kji-Wikuom Studios in Eskasoni. Host Monique Manatch speaks with Jaiden Johnson, Tristan Johnson, and Isaac Jeddore-Gould about how their passion for media and storytelling led them to careers in digital filmmaking, game development, and cultural preservation. They discuss their involvement in producing Mi’kmaq-language content, documenting elders’ stories, streaming community events, and promoting their first ...

Melanie Sampson, an Indigenous artist and former radio host, shares her creative journey from Labrador to Nova Scotia. From geology to radio to launching a card and digital art business, she discusses turning a lifelong hobby into a sustainable career. Melanie reflects on Indigenous connection, artistic expression, and the power of community-driven creativity.

Gloria Jane Bell shares her research into the Vatican's hidden collection of Indigenous art and belongings. From sacred wampum belts to Sundance masks taken during the Potlatch Ban, she highlights issues of colonial theft, misrepresentation, and the need for Indigenous-led restitution efforts.

In this episode, Louise Profeit-LeBlanc, a storyteller from Nacho Nyak Dun, shares her life’s work preserving and sharing Indigenous oral traditions. She recounts her early experiences recording stories from elders for Yukon land claims, the founding of the Yukon International Storytelling Festival, and the importance of different types of stories—ancestral, regional, community, family, and personal. Louise emphasizes that stories are living, adaptive, and often teach through humor, symbolism...

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Ivan J. White—Mi’kmaw musician, writer, filmmaker, and storyteller from Flat Bay, Newfoundland. Ivan reflects on his path into storytelling, rooted in a critical moment during school when colonial narratives misrepresented Mi’kmaw history. Through writing, music, and filmmaking, Ivan works to preserve community memory and reclaim truth, often challenging historical fabrications. He shares how early access to books and fam...

In this episode of InDigital Insights, Algonquin Anishinaabe author, artist, and advocate Lynn Gehl joins host Monique Manatch to discuss Indigenous knowledge, artistic practice, and resistance through creative expression. Lynn shares her journey as an artist and activist, including her legal battle in Gehl v. Canada, her exploration of traditional forms like petroforms, wampum belts, and birch bark scrolls, and the deep teachings found in Indigenous symbolic literacy. Her art is a blend of t...