Photo: Still from pî-kiwîk (Come Home), written and directed by Keisha Erwin (NSI IndigiDocs)

The National Screen Institute is proud to announce the world premiere of a one-hour APTN special featuring the final NSI IndigiDocs short documentaries and a 10-year commemorative compilation celebrating the program. The broadcast airs Saturday, October 18 at 7 p.m. ET on APTN. The films will also launch on APTN lumi the following day.

This special broadcast marks the culmination of a decade-long program that has supported Indigenous storytellers from across Canada in sharing powerful, personal and community-rooted narratives.

The three films airing are:

• Athegus – Glen Reid (Toronto, ON)
  A personal journey of rediscovery and reclamation, shaped by ancestral knowledge and spiritual wellness.
• Living Weaving – Dustin McGladrey (Vancouver, BC)
  A portrait of cultural resurgence through art and activism, revealing how stories of survival are carried across generations.
• pî-kiwîk (Come Home) – Keisha Erwin (Spiritwood, SK)
  A moving exploration of belonging and identity, as a young person seeks their place within their community and culture.

The films will be followed by a commemorative 10-year retrospective, produced and narrated by program alum Erica Daniels, showcasing the legacy and impact of NSI IndigiDocs.

Since its inception, the program has supported 74 Indigenous storytellers in creating 38 films, generating more than 500 jobs and over $740,000 in independent production budgets. Stories have been filmed in Indigenous communities across the country — from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation to Lubicon Lake Cree Nation, Easterville and beyond — and screened at festivals including imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, Hot Docs Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.

“NSI IndigiDocs has been a platform for truth-telling, cultural strength and deep artistic vision,” said Christine Kleckner, executive director of the National Screen Institute. “These final films are a fitting close to a decade of incredible work by emerging Indigenous creators who bring a distinct narrative that shapes the future of storytelling across Canada. APTN’s leadership and commitment has been invaluable in ensuring the program’s longevity.”

This 10-year milestone also recognizes APTN’s long-standing commitment to NSI IndigiDocs. As the program’s founding broadcaster, APTN has been central in supporting emerging Indigenous storytellers and creating space for authentic, community-rooted stories to reach audiences across Canada.

“For 10 years, NSI IndigiDocs has nurtured Indigenous voices and empowered storytellers to share their truths with audiences across Canada. APTN is honoured to have been the founding broadcaster of this program and to have walked alongside so many creators as they reclaimed stories, strengthened culture and inspired change,” said Monika Ille, APTN CEO. “These films are works of art and so much more – they are acts of resilience, pride and vision for the future. We are proud to celebrate this remarkable legacy and the storytellers who made it possible.”

NSI IndigiDocs alumni include Sonya Ballantyne, Ryan Cooper, Tasha Hubbard, Alexandra Lazarowich, Amanda Strong, Darcy Waite and Rhayne Vermette.

Broadcast premiere: Saturday, October 18 at 7 p.m. ET on APTN (Check your local listings.)
Streaming: Available October 19 on APTN lumi

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NSI IndigiDocs 2021-23 was funded by Program Partners APTN, Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism and RBC Emerging Artists Project; Indigenous Training Programs Partner Directors Guild of Canada (DGC); Strategic Sponsors documentary Channel, CBC Gem; Supporting Sponsors Telefilm Canada, A&E Networks; Provincial / Territorial Sponsors Creative BC through the Daryl Duke and William Vince Scholarship Fund, Creative Saskatchewan, ScreenSask; Industry Partners National Film Board of Canada, Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada, IATSE Local 856; Industry Supporters Entertainment Partners, Final Draft, Documentary Organization of Canada, imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, Hot Docs Festival and Service Sponsors Line 21 Media and iSplice Films. NSI Core Funders were Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

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About APTN

APTN launched in 1999 as the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world. Since then, the network has become a global leader in programming that celebrates the rich diversity of Indigenous Peoples at home and abroad. A respected charitable media company, APTN inspires audiences and shares authentic stories via three platforms: APTN (English and French channel), APTN Languages (Indigenous language channel) and APTN lumi (streaming service). APTN proudly features over 80% Canadian content on all three platforms.

About the National Screen Institute

The National Screen Institute partners with a visionary network of donors, businesses, and private and public organizations to provide industry-informed training in screen-based media, equipping creators across Canada with the skills to tell unforgettable stories.

By prioritizing storytellers from equity-deserving communities – including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), women, LGBTQ2S+, people with disabilities, and those in regional and remote areas – the institute helps build a more sustainable industry and a workforce ready to meet evolving market demands.

Students and alumni find their voices and places on the global stage, strengthening the creative economy and shaping a better world.

Further enquiries

Media enquiries: Abiola Agbayewa – abiola[dot]agbayewa[at]nsi-canada[dot]ca