Indigenous Documentary professionals from across Canada offered 2-year free membership
Toronto, ON—In alignment with the values and mission of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), the Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) is proud to announce that we will be offering free membership to any and all Canadian Indigenous individuals – valid until Dec 31st, 2020.
This offer will give individuals full access to the range of member benefits available through the Documentary Organization of Canada – welcoming all those with interest in membership into our thriving community of documentary professionals.
“Through this initiative, our goal is to remove any barriers to access that may previously have limited inclusion and accessibility to the value of participating in our organization. We champion the production and distribution of documentaries across all platforms – and advocate on behalf of creators and producers – to strengthen the Canadian documentary community. Our goal is to ensure that all creators are given equal opportunity to succeed in sharing their work and stories”, remarks Mathieu Pierre Dagonas, Executive Director, DOC.
We strongly believe that Indigenous voices need to be heard, protected and championed. Documentaries are an important platform to explore the human experience and have the power to express culture, language, and shared experiences.
The TRC identified that “participation in the arts is a guarantor of other human rights because the first thing that is taken away (…) is the right to self-expression… The arts help to restore human dignity and identity in the face of injustice. Properly structured, they can also invite people to explore their own worldviews, values, beliefs, and attitudes that may be barriers to healing, justice, and reconciliation.”
The creative process allows space for exploration, rediscovery of voice, and the potential for healing both individually and collectively. Sharing stories through documentary film allows filmmakers and viewers to reclaim and rewrite their narrative.
“We thank DOC for their leadership as a professional association, in removing barriers to access for Indigenous filmmakers” notes Jesse Wente, Director of the Indigenous Screen Office.
DOC is an inclusive and diverse community of individuals, and we are proud to extend the opportunity to join our community and assist individuals to grow within it.
