In Development
Richard Wagamese: The Next Chapter
Format: 88-minute broadcast / feature length documentary
Genre: Arts & Culture POV documentary
Anticipated production: 2025
Co-Production Partner: Sea to Sky Entertainment Inc.
Richard Wagamese was a storyteller and sacred clown in the spirit of his Ojibway culture. It gave him the keys to the theme park of his personal stories. He offered us a ticket on the roller coaster of his life, into the dark recesses of his soul to the highest mountain top of his spirituality. His writing takes you on a slow ferris wheel turn sitting with the mystery tramp on the street to the medicine man watching from above. This is who he was born to be, how he was to live and how he wanted to be remembered. He was a buffalo running on dream clouds where only the trickster knows where the teachings of life can be found.
When he became Wagamese, he finally discovered who he was — Muskode Pisheke Anaquat, which translates to “Buffalo Cloud”. It was given to him by an Elder after he reunited with his family at age 26, and learnt that he was an Ojibwe from the Wabaseemoong First Nation in northwestern Ontario. The Elder told him that his role was to be a teller of stories, a communicator, and a keeper of the great oral tradition of his people.
With this, he went on from being an abandoned child and homeless teenager to become one of Canada’s foremost storytellers and writers with a career spanning over 35 years. He transformed into the sacred clown in the spirit of his ancestors and with that, he became a renowned journalist, television, radio and documentary writer, producer and host, phenomenal speaker, and an award-winning author of 18 books.
Dakota Oyate: A History
Format: 7 x 1-hour series
Genre: Historical documentary
Type: Live action
Anticipated production: 2025
Much of the history of the Dakota people has been preserved through pictographs on buffalo robes, passing down stories and events across seven generations in North America. These sacred images recount the deep and enduring presence of the Dakota Oyate — the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota peoples — who have roamed the plains for millennia.
For the first time, this series brings to light the injustices and persecution the Dakota have faced on both sides of the Medicine Line. Through song, mysticism, lore, and truth, their history will be told in their own voices. The Canadian government issued a formal apology to the Dakota and Lakota people of Canada on July 18, 2024. This series explores what this acknowledgement means for a people who have long fought for their place in history.
Dakota Oyate is a powerful testament to survival, resilience, and the enduring legacy of a people whose story has been etched into the land itself.
Nokomis: Teachings of the 13 Moons
Format: 13 x 30-minute series
Genre: Children’s programming
Type: Hybrid animation & live action
Anticipated production: 2025
13 Moons is a deep dive into the traditional Vision Keepers’ teachings through the eyes of a coming-of-age young woman named “Little Current.” Little Current is a dancer. She has been raised to be strong, noble and respectful of creation. For example, she knows that everything in Creation has spirit. The plants, the trees, the water, the wind, the rocks and the mountains have spirit. The sky world, including the moon and the other planets, have spirit. All of these are part of our First Family, the natural world.
The Moon is called Grandmother Moon and great respect is paid to her. As a young woman, Little Current has come to a time in her life that she must be aware of all the teachings she needs to become a woman. Through respected “Teachers” (Karen Pheasant, Sherry Copenace) she will “dance” us through all the teachings and ceremony she needs to be a strong, noble and respectful of creation.
These illuminations will be taught in the women’s lodge where the cycles of the thirteen moons will open the doors to her lifetime of understanding and being. Each passing moon will guide her through the changes that will light her way. They will follow times for planting, harvesting, hunting, gathering and the teachings she must follow to be an Anishinaabe Kway (Woman). In the Anishinaabe calendar the names of each month include the word ‘moon’ and reflect the close connection between the cycles of the moon, the plant and animal life and the teachings behind them on Turtle Island. As Little Current dances through all these realms of understanding and becomes more aware and knowledgeable of our traditions and culture so does our honour and respect for these ways.