“Bak Wo Son (Reflections): Jeff Bear, Parts 1 & 2” Series 2 Episode 24 & 25

This episode is in spoken Maliseet with English subtitles. This accomplished producer has a long career and is dedicated to telling the stories of his people. Early influences of television in his childhood were tempered by an inspirational encounter with the work of Alanis Obomsawin. Following studies at the University of Regina and the Banff Centre of the Arts, Jeff Bear worked as a newspaper journalist for “Windspeaker”. While covering the First Minister's Conference on Aboriginal Rights in 1985, he became acutely aware of the gulf between his perceptions and those of mainstream media journalists covering the same event. In 1990, he joined CBC Toronto to work with Barbara Frum and the team that produced “The Journal”. He produced eight documentaries there, followed by the network series “First Stories”. In 2000, Jeff Bear left network television to become an independent producer with his wife Marianne Jones to produce a 26-episode series on Haida art, “Ravens and Eagles”. He pays tribute to those who have inspired him, including Marianne Jones from Haida Gwaii, the late Maori producer Barry Barclay, and his sister Shirley Bear, a highly respected Maliseet artist.

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