Lisa Meeches
Indigenous Training Programs Advisor
Lisa Meeches is one of the most dynamic and respected producers in the film industry and is Anishinaabe from Long Plain First Nation.
After studying broadcasting in North Dakota, Lisa began her career in 1986 with the Native Media Network. She later began news reporting for Craig Broadcasting Systems in Manitoba and Alberta, where she established a liaison team who connected the newsroom with surrounding First Nations communities.
Her journalism career recently came full circle with a Beyond Borders Media Award for her work on Taken as co-creator, executive producer and host, for which Lisa has also been nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards (best factual series, best cross platform project). Lisa is also an episode director on the series.
She is the founding partner and executive producer of Eagle Vision, the most prolific production company in Canadian history with Indigenous ownership.
Lisa has produced numerous projects to critical acclaim including The Sharing Circle, Canada’s longest running Indigenous television series; Ice Road Truckers; Tipi Tales, a Parent’s Choice award-winning children’s series; and Elijah, a Gemini Award-winning MOW; and the three-time nominated, two-time CSA winner for JACK.
She executive produced the four-time CSA nominee and two-time winner We Were Children, which is widely praised by residential school survivors for its power to heal, while general audiences have been moved by its accurate and truthful portrayal of the impacts of Canada’s colonial past. Prior to this project, Lisa travelled the country with her team interviewing residential school survivors about their experiences for the Legacy of Hope project.
Most recently Lisa served as creative director/executive producer for the National MMIWG Inquiry. Her work was honoured with two gold medals at the international Shorty Awards for excellence in social media. Other Eagle Vision Inc. productions include the comedies Lovesick, Walk All Over Me, which premiered at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and sold to the Weinstein Company, the politically-charged romantic comedy Blue State, and the Academy Award®-winning feature film Capote. Lisa is co-executive producer on the CBC/eOne series Burden of Truth.
Lisa also devotes considerable time to other causes. She has been critical to the success of the Manito Ahbee Festival since its inception 15 years ago where she has acted in the capacity of board chair on a volunteer basis until recently stepping down to assume the role of executive director.
True to her heritage, Lisa is a renowned champion fancy shawl dancer. Lisa is executive producer of Orange Daisy Project, a social action campaign in support of mental health for teen girls. Among her numerous awards and nominations are: 2007 National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Media & Communication, 2009 YMCA-YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in the area of Creative Communications, University of Manitoba’s Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Award, Women in Film and Television 2009 Crystal Award for Mentorship, Order of Manitoba, and she was even Ms. Chatelaine.
Lisa is also an alumna of NSI.
Erica Daniels
Program Advisor
Erica is Cree/Ojibway from Peguis First Nation. She is a proud mother, multi-award winning filmmaker and owner of Kejic Productions providing video production, photography and graphic design.
Erica started her journey through a multimedia program called Just TV and is an alumna of the CBC New Indigenous Voices and NSI IndigiDocs programs.
Erica recently won the first ever Indigenous Film Award at Manito Ahbee Festival 2019. Her most recent film, Run As One – The Journey of the Front Runners has been shared in film festivals across the globe, won two Golden Sheaf Awards and was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award and Banff World Media Festival Award.
Along with her passion for storytelling, Erica is also passionate about working with Indigenous youth in her community by reconnecting them to their culture and identity. Erica currently runs a cultural program at the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre and mentors youth in video production.
The beauty of her culture continually inspires Erica’s work and motivates her to share the knowledge of her elders for future generations.
Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill
Program Manager
As program manager, Sarah works across many of the National Screen Institute’s programs, helps run the day-to-day activities of CBC New Indigenous Voices and provides production and mentorship support for NSI New Northern Voices.
As program manager, Sarah works across many of the National Screen Institute’s programs, helps run the day-to-day activities of CBC New Indigenous Voices and provides production and mentorship support for NSI New Northern Voices.
Sarah is a multi-talented Indigenous woman, born and raised on Treaty 1 Territory, (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and registered to Long Plain First Nation. She is a filmmaker with extensive experience who is dedicated to her craft and has made multiple short films that have screened at North American festivals. She strives to create stories and to help others share their stories through the medium of filmmaking.
Sarah went from thinking filmmaking could only be a hobby to making it a full-time career for herself: as a production manager for various productions and working at the National Screen Institute.
She is also co-chair of the board of directors for WNDX Festival of Moving Images and chair of Winnipeg Film Group.
Associate faculty
* Indicates alumni
Indigenous and life guidance
- Colin Mousseau, Elder/Traditional Advisor
- Dr. Winona Wheeler, Indigenous history
Producers
- Ryan Cooper*, Rainy Storm Productions
- Jon Montes, National Film Board
- Coty Savard, National Film Board
- Michelle St. John
- Jeff Newman, Nüman Films
Broadcasters
- Robin Summerfield, CBC
- Paul Barnsley, APTN
- Nadia Gaudet, APTN
Directors
- Shane Belcourt*
- JJ Neepin*
Writers/story editors
- Jordan Wheeler, writer
DOP/cinematography
- Andrew Forbes
- Erica Daniels*
Other industry resources
- Rosanna Deerchild, CBC
- Darcy Fehr, actor
- Steven Foster, Directors Guild Of Canada (Manitoba)
- Terence Fuller, IATSE 865
- Noël Habel, Canada Council for the Arts
- Julie Hackett, editor
- Anita Lubosch, sound technician
- Louise O’Brien-Moran, Manitoba Film & Music
- Monique Perro, City of Winnipeg
- Rob Rowen, IATSE Local 865
- Adam Smoluk*, Film Training Manitoba
- Taavo Soodor, production designer
- Kerry Swanson*, Indigenous Screen Office
- Kim Wheeler, podcast producer
Alumni
- Desiree Brightnose – Chemawawin Cree Nation, MB
- Anonda Canadien – Deh Gáh Got’îê First Nation, NWT
- Aiyana Hart – Carry the Kettle First Nation, MB
- Jordan Kelly – Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, ON
- Brittany Monkman – Fisher River Cree Nation, MB
- Logan Nadeau – Norway House Cree Nation, MB
- Ariyah Pierre – Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation
- Holly Smith – Six Nations Reserve, ON
- John Wapioke – Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation, MB
- Seth Arcand – Morinville, AB
- Sarah Carrier – Regina, SK
- Faith Gore – Winnipeg, MB
- Janell Henry – Winnipeg, MB
- Nathaniel Magbanua – Winnipeg, MB
- Matthew Tenute – Vancouver, BC
- AJ Wastasecoot – Winnipeg, MB
- Bethany Fontaine – Winnipeg, MB
- Isaac Kakegamic – Thunder Bay, ON
- Avery Kewistep – Saskatoon, SK
- Kane Kirton – Winnipeg, MB
- Chyann Maracle – Deseronto, ON
- André Nault – Winnipeg, MB
- Marissa Stevenson – Winnipeg, MB
- Celeste Sutherland – Winnipeg, MB
- Kale Swampy – Winnipeg, MB
- Daniel Bear – Winnipeg, MB
- Jon Berg – Burnaby, ON
- Adeline Bird – Winnipeg, MB
- Joe Courchene – Winnipeg, MB
- Damian Frazee – Winnipeg, MB
- Shauntelle George – Winnipeg, MB
- Rhonda Lucy – Toronto, ON
- Cynthia Murdock – Winnipeg, MB
- Diandre Thomas-Hart – Winnipeg, MB
- Michael Black – Winnipeg, MB
- Christopher Eastman – Winnipeg, MB
- Tyshana Hobson – Winnipeg, MB
- Alexis Leask – Winnipeg, MB
- Andrew Lown – Niagra, ON
- Gindalee Ouskun – Winnipeg, MB
- Jesse Spence – Winnipeg, MB
- Nikita Weiss Day – Vancouver, BC
- Ryan Wilson – Winnipeg, MB
- Shannon Bear – Winnipeg, MB
- Janelle Gossfeld – Thompson, MB
- Phoenix Campbell – Winnipeg, MB
- Cody Halcrow – Winnipeg, MB
- Zachary Harper – Winnipeg, MB
- Justin Kehler – Winnipeg, MB
- Olly King (aka Kenneth Burns) – Winnipeg, MB
- Jordan Wagner – Winnipeg, MB
- Darcy Waite – Edmonton, AB
- Cody Blacksmith – Winnipeg, MB
- Matthew De Paz – Winnipeg, MB
- Vince Fontaine – Winnipeg, MB
- Frances Koncan – Winnipeg, MB
- Melissa Raven – Winnipeg, MB
- Kelsey Smoke – Winnipeg, MB
- Luther Alexander – Winnipeg, MB
- Sonya Ballantyne – Winnipeg, MB
- Jared Bone – Winnipeg, MB
- Gloria Burns – Ottawa, ON
- Joel Chartrand – Winnipeg, MB
- Sage Daniels – Winnipeg, MB
- Jaydon Flett – Winnipeg, MB
- Amanda Kindzierski – Winnipeg, MB
- Maggie Moose – Winnipeg, MB
- Chad Anderson – Winnipeg, MB
- Aubrie Bruyere – Winnipeg, MB
- Jordon Fish – Winnipeg, MB
- Andrew George – Winnipeg, MB
- Jamie Mckay – Winnipeg, MB
- Charlene Moore – Winnipeg, MB
- Randy Sutherland – Winnipeg, MB
- Tanner Trudzik – Winnipeg, MB
- Cheyenne Bruneau – Winnipeg, MB
- Rodney Contois – Winnipeg, MB
- Honey Courchene – Winnipeg, MB
- Dakota Eischen – Winnipeg, MB
- Jesse Frechette – Winnipeg, MB
- Deanna Mace – Winnipeg, MB
- Dennis Seenie – Winnipeg, MB
- Adam Wildeman – Winnipeg, MB
- Stanley Wood – Winnipeg, MB
- Christopher Bird – Winnipeg, MB
- Alison Campeau – Winnipeg, MB
- Anna-Celestrya Carr – Winnipeg, MB
- Kayla Hayden – Winnipeg, MB
- Justina Neepin – Winnipeg, MB
- Percy Ponniuk – Happy Valley, NL
- Vince Sanderson – Winnipeg, MB
- Earl Soldier – Winnipeg, MB
- Leonard Sumner – Winnipeg, MB
- Floyd Blackhorse – Calgary, AB
- Tyra Cox – Winnipeg, MB
- Erica Daniels – Winnipeg, MB
- Joey Ironstand – Winnipeg, MB
- Lief Palmi Johnson – Winnipeg, MB
- Jody Pacey – Winnipeg, MB
- Dion Telesky – Winnipeg, MB
- Colten Yuzicappi – Regina, SK
- Elliott Gordon-Nelson – Winnipeg, MB
- Leslie Brant – Winnipeg, MB
- Mario Ballantyne – Winnipeg, MB
- Theresa Stevenson – Winnipeg, MB
- April Seenie – Winnipeg, MB
- Dinae Robinson – Winnipeg, MB
- Trinity Bruce – Winnipeg, MB
- Dion Desjarlais – Winnipeg, MB
- Ashley Hirt – Winnipeg, MB
- Daniel Jebb – Winnipeg, MB
- Alanais Moar – Winnipeg, MB
- Fawnda Neckoway – Winnipeg, MB
- Jasmine Netsena – Yellowknife, NT
- Marjorie Roden – Winnipeg, MB
- Chantal Rondeau – Vancouver, BC
- Florence Spence – Winnipeg, MB
- Ed Turner – Winnipeg, MB
- Kerry Barber – Dawson City, YK
- Roger Boyer – Winnipeg, MB
- Candace Backfat – Siksika Nation, AB
- Clarence Fisher – Winnipeg, MB
- Chris Gabb – Winnipeg, MB
- Sheldon Greene – Winnipeg, MB
- Craig Guiboche – Winnipeg, MB
- Amanda Smart – Winnipeg, MB
- Brian Tuesday – Winnipeg, MB
- Sam Vint – Winnipeg, MB
- Angela Wandering Spirit – Winnipeg, MB
- Susan Solway – Siksika Nation, AB
- Brendon Campbell – Winnipeg, MB
- Dustin Courchene – Winnipeg, MB
- Crystal Greene – Winnipeg, MB
- Dustin Horrock – Winnipeg, MB
- Nicola Little – Winnipeg, MB
- Chris MacDonald – Winnipeg, MB
- Shannon Myran – Winnipeg, MB
- Ken Pangman – Winnipeg, MB
- Jason Parenteau – Winnipeg, MB
- Jeff Taylor – Winnipeg, MB
NSI Aboriginal Youth Pilot Project
- Tim Stevenson – Winnipeg, MB
- Paul Rabliauskas – Winnipeg, MB
- Peter Flamand – Winnipeg, MB
- Melanie Nepinak – Winnipeg, MB
- Jason Harper – Winnipeg, MB
- Pamela Vernaus – Winnipeg, MB
- Chris Thompson – Winnipeg, MB
- Cam Courchene – Winnipeg, MB
- Dwayne Bird – Winnipeg, MB
- Darryl Nepinak– Winnipeg, MB
- Janice Beaulieu-Roulette – Winnipeg, MB
- Lennie Davis – Winnipeg, MB
Program Partners
