Mi’kmaw writer, musician, and storyteller Ivan J. White joins InDigital Insights to discuss the intersections of storytelling, technology, and Indigenous worldviews. In conversation with host Monique Manatch, Ivan reflects on Flat Bay, language revitalization, creative sovereignty, and how Indigenous knowledge can resist systems rooted in capitalism and colonialism.

Discover how storytelling remains a powerful tool for cultural survival and future-building in the digital era.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Ivan J. White—a Mi’kmaw writer, musician, and filmmaker from Flat Bay, Newfoundland. Ivan shares how his storytelling journey began after encountering colonial misrepresentations in school. Through music, writing, and film, he now works to preserve Mi’kmaw history and reclaim cultural memory. The conversation explores the ethics of Indigenous filmmaking, language revitalization, and the critical differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous storytelling approaches.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, Monique Manatch interviews Alanis Obomsawin, discussing the power of storytelling and its connection to Indigenous languages and cultures. They explore how traditional oral storytelling techniques vary among nations and reflect cultural distinctiveness, the challenges of translating Indigenous concepts into Western frameworks, and the role of respect and listening in documentary filmmaking. Alanis reflects on her experiences growing up, cultural preservation, and the impact of digital tools like video games and AI in revitalizing Indigenous languages and narratives. The conversation highlights the importance of storytelling in cultural continuity and education, and the progress made in representing Indigenous voices in media.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Lynn Gehl—Algonquin Anishinaabe artist, author, and advocate—about using traditional and digital art to explore truth, heart knowledge, and resistance. Lynn shares how mediums like petroforms, wampum belts, birch bark scrolls, and digital tools communicate Indigenous knowledge, while challenging colonial structures. This conversation is a compelling reflection on the role of art in activism and ancestral continuity.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch sits down with filmmaker and artist Evan Butler to discuss his creative journey and the intersection of digital tools and traditional Indigenous storytelling. Evan reflects on transitioning from analog to digital media and how filmmaking becomes a powerful act of cultural revitalization. Through his work, he explores themes of identity, heritage, and the ongoing role of art in sustaining Indigenous knowledge.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Steve Diabo, an interactive artist and creative technologist using digital tools to amplify Indigenous storytelling. Steve shares the inspiration behind his award-winning art installation Ancestor’s Gate and his passion for creating culturally rooted video games that teach sustainable living and traditional knowledge. Through immersive art and tech, Steve reclaims narrative spaces and builds bridges between innovation and identity.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Wes Day, founder of Fresh Shift Productions and a multimedia storyteller from Serpent River First Nation. Wes reflects on his filmmaking journey, from grassroots media to creating powerful cultural narratives. They explore the evolving role of technology in storytelling, the importance of mentoring youth, and how Indigenous knowledge can be preserved through media while staying grounded in community, tradition, and land. A heartfelt conversation on authenticity, innovation, and intergenerational storytelling.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Scott Benesiinaabandan, a contemporary Indigenous visual artist, about his journey from photography to experimental media. They explore how digital tools like VR are used in Indigenous storytelling, the political and cultural role of language, and the complexities of digital sovereignty. Scott shares how art, technology, and identity come together to amplify Indigenous voices and reclaim narratives in a global digital landscape.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with multidisciplinary artist Aerial Sunday-Cardinal from Goodfish Lake. They explore how Indigenous cultural values, storytelling, and traditional knowledge are preserved and reimagined through digital art. Aerial shares insights on integrating cultural protocols into her creative process and the challenges of representing Indigenous perspectives in modern mediums. The conversation highlights the balance between honoring tradition and embracing innovation in Indigenous artistic expression.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Jackie Fawn, a self-taught Indigenous artist whose work centers on cultural preservation, social justice, and youth empowerment. Jackie shares her artistic journey, including her creative role in movements like Standing Rock, and the development of educational tools like coloring books and her upcoming comic series Rez Days. Through storytelling, digital media, and activism, Jackie uses art to educate, inspire, and create space for healing across Indigenous communities.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, photographer and artist Cora Kavyaktok—founder of Lil Inuk Photography—discusses her mission to preserve and celebrate Inuit culture through visual storytelling. She shares the meaning behind the Inuit Tattoo Revitalization Project, which reclaims traditional tattoo practices once suppressed by colonization, and introduces the Gold Series, a photographic tribute to Inuit women’s resilience, pride, and beauty. Through her lens, Cora bridges tradition and innovation, creating art that speaks to cultural reclamation, empowerment, and healing.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, Monique Manatch sits down with Inuk digital artist Gabriel Uqaituk to explore his creative process of transforming personal photographs into abstract digital art. Gabriel shares how he incorporates Inuit cultural symbols to convey powerful stories, blending tradition with technology. The discussion delves into cultural preservation, the protocols surrounding Indigenous art, and the role of digital tools in safeguarding knowledge. Together, they examine how digital platforms can be used to share Indigenous perspectives while upholding cultural values and responsibilities.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Steven Loft, a prominent Indigenous curator and cultural leader, about the evolution of Indigenous art, the impact of digital technology on cultural expression, and the challenges of maintaining sovereignty in the face of AI and appropriation. Steven shares his career journey, insights on the decolonization of art spaces, and reflections on Indigenous cultural resilience and governance. Together, they discuss the importance of grounding innovation in traditional protocols and the role of the next generation in shaping the future of Indigenous arts and culture.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch speaks with Tjay Henhawk—a multidisciplinary Indigenous artist and founder of Ever Deadly—about the intersection of technology, art, and sovereignty. With a background in acting, painting, game design, and web development, Tjay shares insights into VR storytelling, AI ethics, data ownership, and creating Indigenous-centered digital experiences. From coloring books to murals to web platforms, Tjay’s work spans both creative expression and critical conversations about Indigenous data, identity, and artistic autonomy in a rapidly evolving digital world.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, Monique Manatch interviews Rachel “Rae” Corston, an Indigenous animator and story artist studying at Sheridan College. Rae shares her creative journey from growing up on the reserve to developing animations that amplify Indigenous voices and health education. Currently, she’s working on a heart health project featuring a talking beaver for Weenebayko General Hospital. Rae discusses her skills in character rigging, storyboarding, painting, and sound design, and how her life experience inspires work that resonates with Indigenous youth and communities.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, Monique Manatch speaks with Ovi Mailhot, a self-taught Nlaka’pamux and Sto:lo artist from Seabird Island, B.C. Ovi discusses his passion for Coast Salish design, cultural storytelling, and the importance of art in community healing and identity. He also provides a hands-on tutorial on creating digital drawings for print, showing how traditional elements are adapted into modern tools. Through his work, Ovi honors the past while creating a future rooted in Indigenous pride and creativity.

In this InDigital Insights episode, host Monique Manatch speaks with Kahentawaks Tiewishaw—a Kanienʼkehá:ka multidisciplinary artist and Artistic Director of Revital Software. Kahentawaks discusses the locative nature of Indigenous languages, the healing power of digital art, and her use of game design as a tool for language revitalization. With experience in 3D modeling, coding, and community-based storytelling, she shares how her team is building a Kanien’kéha video game library to teach, inspire, and preserve cultural identity. Bonus topics include rez cats and the creative joy behind Indigenous innovation.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, Monique Manatch speaks with Jesse Wente—Indigenous author, broadcaster, and arts advocate—about the evolution of Indigenous filmmaking in Canada and the fight for narrative sovereignty. Jesse discusses the role of big tech in shaping (and distorting) cultural expression, the legacy of colonialism in media, and his work with the Indigenous Screen Office and Canada Council for the Arts. A deep, reflective conversation about truth, resistance, and the power of storytelling in reclaiming Indigenous identity.

In this InDigital Insights episode, host Monique Manatch speaks with Dominic Lafontaine—an Algonquin multimedia artist, poet, and musician known for his bold, humorous, and critical take on Indigenous identity and contemporary art. Dominic discusses his recent exhibitions, how comedy plays a role in challenging assumptions, and the politics surrounding identity and “pretendians.” With a motto of “Research, remix, and repeat,” Dominic offers a unique lens into how traditional and digital art forms can provoke thought and celebrate complexity in Indigenous storytelling.

In this InDigital Insights episode, Monique Manatch speaks with Michelle Sylliboy—an award-winning L’nu/Mi’kmaq interdisciplinary artist, author, and educator. Michelle discusses her work with Mi’kmaq hieroglyphs (Komqwejwi’kasikl), her whale bone carvings, and the community-based nature of her creative practice. From her upcoming performance with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra to her work bringing art to Mi’kmaw Nation districts, Michelle shares how language, collaboration, and identity inform her artistic vision.

In this InDigital Insights episode, host Monique Manatch interviews Nova Courchene—an Anishinaabekwe artist whose work bridges illustration, theatre, and education. Nova shares how she infuses traditional teachings into digital art, wall murals, and school collaborations. Her artwork is a tribute to Anishnaabe knowledge and a celebration of Indigenous storytelling through design, space-making, and cultural education. This episode also includes an artist talk and visual examples of her impactful work.

In this episode of InDigital Insights, host Monique Manatch interviews Rose Stiffarm—an Indigenous filmmaker and educator—about her journey through documentary and narrative filmmaking. Rose reflects on her experience as a cinematographer, her role in film education, and how camera access and workshops empower Indigenous youth to tell their own stories. The discussion touches on cultural representation, film theory, and building creative community through mentorship and media production.

In this InDigital Insights episode, Monique Manatch speaks with Archer Pechawis, an acclaimed Indigenous performance artist and educator. Archer shares his journey combining Plains Cree traditions with digital tools like video, audio, and live performance. The conversation explores his work with youth, the ethics of AI in Indigenous contexts, and how hand drums and circuitry coexist in his practice. Together, they reflect on Indigenous knowledge, protocol, and the possibilities—and challenges—of imagining an Indigenous artificial intelligence.

In this InDigital Insights episode, Monique Manatch interviews Theo Cuthand, a groundbreaking Indigenous filmmaker and game designer. Theo shares insights into their creative process, including tutorials and behind-the-scenes perspectives on developing video games centered on themes of vampires, consent, and identity. The conversation explores Theo’s approach to Indigiqueer and 2S storytelling, experimental media, and the future of Indigenous game development.

In this InDigital Insights episode, Monique Manatch speaks with Ann Doyon—an accomplished writer, artist, and cultural contributor—about the personal and collective power of art. Ann shares how their work with Theytus Books and multimedia art speaks to Indigenous identity, intergenerational knowledge, and emotional connection. With a career spanning decades and works housed across Turtle Island, Ann brings insight into how storytelling and artistic expression can challenge worldviews and foster deeper cultural appreciation.