“Starting Out: Lisa Jackson” Series 2 Episode 23

Lisa Jackson is part of a new wave of Indigenous filmmakers determined to make a difference. She reflects on her inner city childhood in Toronto and her relationship with her mother, a victim of the residential school experience. Following her mother's death, Lisa was inspired to explore that relationship in an eight-minute film, “Suckerfish”. Following that work, an established Vancouver production company brought her in to direct “Reservation Soldiers”, a one-hour television documentary that examines the relationship between the Canadian military and Aboriginal youth. Between clips of both films and her response to audience discussion at screenings of Reservation Soldiers, Jackson shares her ideas about Indigenous cinema. She acknowledges there are unifying threads of finding and exploring identity and a strong sense of community among Indigenous storytellers. She also believes that art has no boundaries and thinks young Indigenous artists should extend the boundaries of their storytelling and pursue artistic freedom.

Series two of “Storytellers in motion'' celebrates the achievements of Canada's Indigenous artists who work across media that include photography, print journalism, screenwriting for film and television and broadcast news. All have inspiring careers and contribute their thoughts on their place in mainstream media as they seek to define the Indigenous voice.

Produced by: Jeff Bear, Marianne Jones, Urban Rez Productions