there are moments in your life that you never forget one of mine was when I
never forget one of mine was when I
never forget one of mine was when I realized that being native was gonna be
realized that being native was gonna be
realized that being native was gonna be a problem for some people I was three or
a problem for some people I was three or
a problem for some people I was three or four my dad was bragging at my school
four my dad was bragging at my school
four my dad was bragging at my school about how I had taught myself to read a
about how I had taught myself to read a
about how I had taught myself to read a white guy the dad of one of the other
white guy the dad of one of the other
white guy the dad of one of the other kids in my class took me aside and told
kids in my class took me aside and told
kids in my class took me aside and told me I was never good amount to anything
me I was never good amount to anything
me I was never good amount to anything because I was Indian and a girl
because I was Indian and a girl
because I was Indian and a girl fortunately this was also the first time
fortunately this was also the first time
fortunately this was also the first time I was introduced to Batman and Superman
I was introduced to Batman and Superman
I was introduced to Batman and Superman now you might find it weird that a
now you might find it weird that a
now you might find it weird that a native girl looked to two white guys in
native girl looked to two white guys in
native girl looked to two white guys in spandex and black rubber the building of
spandex and black rubber the building of
spandex and black rubber the building of her schema is related to justice and
her schema is related to justice and
her schema is related to justice and self-worth for later life but I saw a
self-worth for later life but I saw a
self-worth for later life but I saw a lot of myself in them that I didn’t see
lot of myself in them that I didn’t see
lot of myself in them that I didn’t see in other TV shows or movies Superman
in other TV shows or movies Superman
in other TV shows or movies Superman like me had grown up in a small
like me had grown up in a small
like me had grown up in a small community feeling like an outsider as he
community feeling like an outsider as he
community feeling like an outsider as he straddled two worlds I straddled the
straddled two worlds I straddled the
straddled two worlds I straddled the Kree community and the larger world and
Kree community and the larger world and
Kree community and the larger world and was trying to fit into both I was
was trying to fit into both I was
was trying to fit into both I was inspired by Superman’s optimism and how
inspired by Superman’s optimism and how
inspired by Superman’s optimism and how he always saw the best in people
he always saw the best in people
he always saw the best in people I wanted to be like him to always use my
I wanted to be like him to always use my
I wanted to be like him to always use my gifts to help others and to make the
gifts to help others and to make the
gifts to help others and to make the world better by working hard to make it
world better by working hard to make it
world better by working hard to make it so I grew up on the mist applies to
so I grew up on the mist applies to
so I grew up on the mist applies to cremation in northern Manitoba the last
cremation in northern Manitoba the last
cremation in northern Manitoba the last stop for gas on the highway six I was an
stop for gas on the highway six I was an
stop for gas on the highway six I was an angry little girl I hated my home
angry little girl I hated my home
angry little girl I hated my home community because I saw no one that
community because I saw no one that
community because I saw no one that wanted to make it better I was
wanted to make it better I was
wanted to make it better I was frustrated with how people mistreated us
frustrated with how people mistreated us
frustrated with how people mistreated us because of our skin colour and I was
because of our skin colour and I was
because of our skin colour and I was ashamed that our side of the river had
ashamed that our side of the river had
ashamed that our side of the river had dirt roads and the other side of the
dirt roads and the other side of the
dirt roads and the other side of the river where most of the white people
river where most of the white people
river where most of the white people live had cement roads but this was why I
live had cement roads but this was why I
live had cement roads but this was why I like Batman his city was basically my
like Batman his city was basically my
like Batman his city was basically my reserve
reserve
reserve and unlike Superman Batman was angry too
and unlike Superman Batman was angry too
and unlike Superman Batman was angry too but Batman was using his anger as fuel
but Batman was using his anger as fuel
but Batman was using his anger as fuel to make his city better he wanted me to
to make his city better he wanted me to
to make his city better he wanted me to use my anger for positivity and never
use my anger for positivity and never
use my anger for positivity and never turn it inward though I felt more like
turn it inward though I felt more like
turn it inward though I felt more like Batman I wanted to be Superman
Batman I wanted to be Superman
Batman I wanted to be Superman I see Superman as my guiding spirit as
I see Superman as my guiding spirit as
I see Superman as my guiding spirit as he taught me to be proud of who I was
he taught me to be proud of who I was
he taught me to be proud of who I was there’s a line in the richard donner
there’s a line in the richard donner
there’s a line in the richard donner movie where Superman’s father jor-el
movie where Superman’s father jor-el
movie where Superman’s father jor-el tells him to always hold in your heart
tells him to always hold in your heart
tells him to always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage
the pride of your special heritage
the pride of your special heritage I felt that Superman cared about
I felt that Superman cared about
I felt that Superman cared about everyone in the world including this
everyone in the world including this
everyone in the world including this Indian girl that was never going to
Indian girl that was never going to
Indian girl that was never going to amount to anything and he taught me to
amount to anything and he taught me to
amount to anything and he taught me to strive for something more to never give
strive for something more to never give
strive for something more to never give up and to face a difficulty and turn my
up and to face a difficulty and turn my
up and to face a difficulty and turn my back on it my mom gave me two great
back on it my mom gave me two great
back on it my mom gave me two great gifts one was my sister and the other
gifts one was my sister and the other
gifts one was my sister and the other was showing me all the movies she loved
was showing me all the movies she loved
was showing me all the movies she loved her taste in movies around the spectrum
her taste in movies around the spectrum
her taste in movies around the spectrum from Indiana Jones to mannequin to
from Indiana Jones to mannequin to
from Indiana Jones to mannequin to over-the-top
over-the-top
over-the-top though my dad was always trying to put
though my dad was always trying to put
though my dad was always trying to put on movies like Little Mermaid for my
on movies like Little Mermaid for my
on movies like Little Mermaid for my sister and I to watch I always loved the
sister and I to watch I always loved the
sister and I to watch I always loved the movies my mom would put on even though
movies my mom would put on even though
movies my mom would put on even though the most of them would scar me for life
the scene with the fake Grail from Last
the scene with the fake Grail from Last Crusade gave me nightmares for about a
Crusade gave me nightmares for about a
Crusade gave me nightmares for about a year
though hated by this most of the
though hated by this most of the mainstream critics the majority of the
mainstream critics the majority of the
mainstream critics the majority of the movies my mom showed me were like my
movies my mom showed me were like my
movies my mom showed me were like my first film school mom’s film school
first film school mom’s film school
first film school mom’s film school taught me three things one the world is
taught me three things one the world is
taught me three things one the world is bigger than the reserved two magic
bigger than the reserved two magic
bigger than the reserved two magic existed and three it wasn’t so bad to be
existed and three it wasn’t so bad to be
existed and three it wasn’t so bad to be the junior to someone senior but I hated
the junior to someone senior but I hated
the junior to someone senior but I hated seeing the same white faces in the midst
seeing the same white faces in the midst
seeing the same white faces in the midst of brown faces that were always the
of brown faces that were always the
of brown faces that were always the crowd and never the lead I hated seeing
crowd and never the lead I hated seeing
crowd and never the lead I hated seeing stories about people being forced off
stories about people being forced off
stories about people being forced off their land be the only time I would see
their land be the only time I would see
their land be the only time I would see a native person on TV I was always a
a native person on TV I was always a
a native person on TV I was always a writer creating stories for school
writer creating stories for school
writer creating stories for school projects was always my preferable
projects was always my preferable
projects was always my preferable homework as ideas came easily to me I
homework as ideas came easily to me I
homework as ideas came easily to me I was inspired by everything from the TV
was inspired by everything from the TV
was inspired by everything from the TV and movies I watched to the books I read
and movies I watched to the books I read
and movies I watched to the books I read I read every single book in my school’s
I read every single book in my school’s
I read every single book in my school’s library by the time I was 13 and asked
library by the time I was 13 and asked
library by the time I was 13 and asked my mom to start bringing home new ones
my mom to start bringing home new ones
my mom to start bringing home new ones from the nearby town of the PAS two
from the nearby town of the PAS two
from the nearby town of the PAS two hours away I wanted to be a writer but
hours away I wanted to be a writer but
hours away I wanted to be a writer but had no idea how to do that it wasn’t a
had no idea how to do that it wasn’t a
had no idea how to do that it wasn’t a concrete physical job like being a
concrete physical job like being a
concrete physical job like being a waitress a nurse or a hydro worker jobs
waitress a nurse or a hydro worker jobs
waitress a nurse or a hydro worker jobs my parents and grandparents could
my parents and grandparents could
my parents and grandparents could understand
understand
understand so I read Stephen King’s on writing when
so I read Stephen King’s on writing when
so I read Stephen King’s on writing when I was 14 to see if he could tell me how
I was 14 to see if he could tell me how
I was 14 to see if he could tell me how to be a writer he said I should keep
to be a writer he said I should keep
to be a writer he said I should keep reading and writing but Stephen was
reading and writing but Stephen was
reading and writing but Stephen was quiet on the details on how a native
quiet on the details on how a native
quiet on the details on how a native girl from a reserve becomes a writer
one of the superpowers of being a native
one of the superpowers of being a native person is being immediately able to
person is being immediately able to
person is being immediately able to recognize another native person one of
recognize another native person one of
recognize another native person one of the first native people I saw on TV and
the first native people I saw on TV and
the first native people I saw on TV and something I liked was West study and
something I liked was West study and
something I liked was West study and Street Fighter playing an Asian guy the
Street Fighter playing an Asian guy the
Street Fighter playing an Asian guy the other native on TV and something I liked
other native on TV and something I liked
other native on TV and something I liked was Tatanka a native wrestler in the WWF
was Tatanka a native wrestler in the WWF
was Tatanka a native wrestler in the WWF sure there were native people on shows
sure there were native people on shows
sure there were native people on shows like north of 60 I show my mom grandma
like north of 60 I show my mom grandma
like north of 60 I show my mom grandma and dad were obsessed with but it was
and dad were obsessed with but it was
and dad were obsessed with but it was too much like my real life why would I
too much like my real life why would I
too much like my real life why would I wanna watch a show set on the reserve
wanna watch a show set on the reserve
wanna watch a show set on the reserve that was sad all the time
that was sad all the time
that was sad all the time no hate to them I would rather see
no hate to them I would rather see
no hate to them I would rather see Tanaka
Tanaka
Tanaka Tatanka beating up Lex Luger or west
Tatanka beating up Lex Luger or west
Tatanka beating up Lex Luger or west thirty being best friends with general
thirty being best friends with general
thirty being best friends with general and bison but I found other heroes I
and bison but I found other heroes I
and bison but I found other heroes I connected with in ways I hadn’t
connected with in ways I hadn’t
connected with in ways I hadn’t experienced before Spock from Star Trek
experienced before Spock from Star Trek
experienced before Spock from Star Trek became a hero of mine because of his
became a hero of mine because of his
became a hero of mine because of his dual identity and trying to live in two
dual identity and trying to live in two
dual identity and trying to live in two worlds while trying to fit into both of
worlds while trying to fit into both of
worlds while trying to fit into both of them I adopted Leonard Nimoy as a
them I adopted Leonard Nimoy as a
them I adopted Leonard Nimoy as a surrogate grandfather as I felt he looks
surrogate grandfather as I felt he looks
surrogate grandfather as I felt he looks so native that I thought he should be my
so native that I thought he should be my
so native that I thought he should be my other hero was Trini the Yellow Ranger
other hero was Trini the Yellow Ranger
other hero was Trini the Yellow Ranger from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV
from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV
from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV show though at the time I was well aware
show though at the time I was well aware
show though at the time I was well aware how racist it probably was to have an
how racist it probably was to have an
how racist it probably was to have an Asian woman play a Yellow Ranger
she was almost as important to me as
she was almost as important to me as Batman and Superman because treaty was a
Batman and Superman because treaty was a
Batman and Superman because treaty was a pale brown girl and the first pale brown
pale brown girl and the first pale brown
pale brown girl and the first pale brown girl I ever saw on TV when I was a kid I
girl I ever saw on TV when I was a kid I
girl I ever saw on TV when I was a kid I would be called an apple red on the
would be called an apple red on the
would be called an apple red on the outside white on the inside for not
outside white on the inside for not
outside white on the inside for not being a real native because of my skin
being a real native because of my skin
being a real native because of my skin tone Trini taught me that being a pale
tone Trini taught me that being a pale
tone Trini taught me that being a pale brown girl didn’t make you less a part
brown girl didn’t make you less a part
brown girl didn’t make you less a part of your culture I graduated high school
of your culture I graduated high school
of your culture I graduated high school at 17 and went on to university the
at 17 and went on to university the
at 17 and went on to university the first person in my family to do so I
first person in my family to do so I
first person in my family to do so I focused on getting a real job
focused on getting a real job
focused on getting a real job suppressing my writing so what I did in
suppressing my writing so what I did in
suppressing my writing so what I did in my spare time for my own amusement when
my spare time for my own amusement when
my spare time for my own amusement when I graduated I thought about going on to
I graduated I thought about going on to
I graduated I thought about going on to universe to grad school for psychology
universe to grad school for psychology
universe to grad school for psychology or even law school and got into the best
or even law school and got into the best
or even law school and got into the best schools in the country
schools in the country
schools in the country but neither path lit me up the media
but neither path lit me up the media
but neither path lit me up the media hadn’t changed there was no more native
hadn’t changed there was no more native
hadn’t changed there was no more native people on TV than there had been when I
people on TV than there had been when I
people on TV than there had been when I was a kid so I realized that this was
was a kid so I realized that this was
was a kid so I realized that this was only gonna change if I did something
only gonna change if I did something
only gonna change if I did something about it so I went to university again
about it so I went to university again
about it so I went to university again to study filmmaking at the University of
to study filmmaking at the University of
to study filmmaking at the University of Winnipeg I was terrified to see that I
Winnipeg I was terrified to see that I
Winnipeg I was terrified to see that I was the oldest person in the class
was the oldest person in the class
was the oldest person in the class amongst all these kids who had all made
amongst all these kids who had all made
amongst all these kids who had all made films before I had no clue what I was
films before I had no clue what I was
films before I had no clue what I was doing and wanted to quit everything I
doing and wanted to quit everything I
doing and wanted to quit everything I wrote felt wrong as I was still writing
wrote felt wrong as I was still writing
wrote felt wrong as I was still writing in that mentality I had learned long ago
in that mentality I had learned long ago
in that mentality I had learned long ago from the media Superman can only be a
from the media Superman can only be a
from the media Superman can only be a white man and not me my first class at
white man and not me my first class at
white man and not me my first class at university was taught by shri jarrett
university was taught by shri jarrett
university was taught by shri jarrett she’d become my mentor the obi-wan Sam
she’d become my mentor the obi-wan Sam
she’d become my mentor the obi-wan Sam my Luke Skywalker Shireen taught me my
my Luke Skywalker Shireen taught me my
my Luke Skywalker Shireen taught me my most important lesson write your own
most important lesson write your own
most important lesson write your own stories it was a simple lesson but I
stories it was a simple lesson but I
stories it was a simple lesson but I hadn’t really thought about it before I
hadn’t really thought about it before I
hadn’t really thought about it before I thought I had to write like Stephen King
thought I had to write like Stephen King
thought I had to write like Stephen King or Guillermo del Toro and tried to make
or Guillermo del Toro and tried to make
or Guillermo del Toro and tried to make copies of what they had done shereen’s
copies of what they had done shereen’s
copies of what they had done shereen’s lesson forced me to think long and hard
lesson forced me to think long and hard
lesson forced me to think long and hard about what I wanted to say and show the
about what I wanted to say and show the
about what I wanted to say and show the world my first film was crash lane based
world my first film was crash lane based
world my first film was crash lane based on a story from my childhood when I was
on a story from my childhood when I was
on a story from my childhood when I was a kid my grandma Virginia would
a kid my grandma Virginia would
a kid my grandma Virginia would always tell me Sonia be more normal I
always tell me Sonia be more normal I
always tell me Sonia be more normal I often wondered why I couldn’t be while
often wondered why I couldn’t be while
often wondered why I couldn’t be while on a trip to the PAS was my dad I was
on a trip to the PAS was my dad I was
on a trip to the PAS was my dad I was reading a Superman comic in the car when
reading a Superman comic in the car when
reading a Superman comic in the car when I became carsick just as I got to a
I became carsick just as I got to a
I became carsick just as I got to a full-page spread of kryptonite and threw
full-page spread of kryptonite and threw
full-page spread of kryptonite and threw up all over it
up all over it
up all over it I realized at that moment that I was a
I realized at that moment that I was a
I realized at that moment that I was a superhero that I have you found my
superhero that I have you found my
superhero that I have you found my powers yet and this was why grandma was
powers yet and this was why grandma was
powers yet and this was why grandma was always telling me to be normal
always telling me to be normal
always telling me to be normal she didn’t want anyone to find out about
she didn’t want anyone to find out about
she didn’t want anyone to find out about my alien ancestry the majority of the
my alien ancestry the majority of the
my alien ancestry the majority of the films I write come from a place in my
films I write come from a place in my
films I write come from a place in my own past my forthcoming film eagle girl
own past my forthcoming film eagle girl
own past my forthcoming film eagle girl was based on my first powwow from my
was based on my first powwow from my
was based on my first powwow from my grandma where I was gifted at eagle
grandma where I was gifted at eagle
grandma where I was gifted at eagle feather so large I thought had it had
feather so large I thought had it had
feather so large I thought had it had come from the Lord of the Eagles in the
come from the Lord of the Eagles in the
come from the Lord of the Eagles in the hobbit my first feature thumb WWC which
hobbit my first feature thumb WWC which
hobbit my first feature thumb WWC which is about a group of teenage girls that
is about a group of teenage girls that
is about a group of teenage girls that start a wrestling promotion on their
start a wrestling promotion on their
start a wrestling promotion on their reserve came from my preteen and teen
reserve came from my preteen and teen
reserve came from my preteen and teen years where my friends and I were
years where my friends and I were
years where my friends and I were obsessed with WWF and would practice the
obsessed with WWF and would practice the
obsessed with WWF and would practice the moves on on each other even though
moves on on each other even though
moves on on each other even though you’re not supposed to practice the
you’re not supposed to practice the
you’re not supposed to practice the moves on each other the writing of these
moves on each other the writing of these
moves on each other the writing of these stories was a solve for the souls of the
stories was a solve for the souls of the
stories was a solve for the souls of the little Indian girl I was who felt alone
little Indian girl I was who felt alone
little Indian girl I was who felt alone with her absence from the media I did it
with her absence from the media I did it
with her absence from the media I did it so that in some small way I changed the
so that in some small way I changed the
so that in some small way I changed the world or at least the world in me I
world or at least the world in me I
world or at least the world in me I haven’t realized that there was a whole
haven’t realized that there was a whole
haven’t realized that there was a whole new generation of native kids who all
new generation of native kids who all
new generation of native kids who all wanted what I wanted when I was a child
wanted what I wanted when I was a child
wanted what I wanted when I was a child I presented crash site at a school here
I presented crash site at a school here
I presented crash site at a school here in Winnipeg to an assembly great ones
in Winnipeg to an assembly great ones
in Winnipeg to an assembly great ones two sixes the gym was absolutely quiet
two sixes the gym was absolutely quiet
two sixes the gym was absolutely quiet as the movie played and I was terrified
as the movie played and I was terrified
as the movie played and I was terrified everyone was having a terrible time the
everyone was having a terrible time the
everyone was having a terrible time the last shot of the movie comes up and
last shot of the movie comes up and
last shot of the movie comes up and everyone cheers and I wanted to cry I
everyone cheers and I wanted to cry I
everyone cheers and I wanted to cry I was rushed by everyone and all these
was rushed by everyone and all these
was rushed by everyone and all these kids were asking me if I was gonna make
kids were asking me if I was gonna make
kids were asking me if I was gonna make the film longer if I was gonna put them
the film longer if I was gonna put them
the film longer if I was gonna put them in their next movie
in their next movie
in their next movie but I think the best thing I heard from
but I think the best thing I heard from
but I think the best thing I heard from that day was when a little girl asked
that day was when a little girl asked
that day was when a little girl asked her teacher if she could go as a
her teacher if she could go as a
her teacher if she could go as a superhero I created for crash site for
superhero I created for crash site for
superhero I created for crash site for my film crash site the main character
my film crash site the main character
my film crash site the main character meets a superhero I wanted that
meets a superhero I wanted that
meets a superhero I wanted that superhero to be Superman but I couldn’t
superhero to be Superman but I couldn’t
superhero to be Superman but I couldn’t use him obviously so I asked myself who
use him obviously so I asked myself who
use him obviously so I asked myself who would Superman be if he had my life so I
would Superman be if he had my life so I
would Superman be if he had my life so I created Thunderbird Thunderbird shares
created Thunderbird Thunderbird shares
created Thunderbird Thunderbird shares Superman’s origin story but it’s more
Superman’s origin story but it’s more
Superman’s origin story but it’s more like a spy like a good version of
like a spy like a good version of
like a spy like a good version of spider-man’s venom in that she shares
spider-man’s venom in that she shares
spider-man’s venom in that she shares her identity with a sentient metal that
her identity with a sentient metal that
her identity with a sentient metal that forms her costume her civilian identity
forms her costume her civilian identity
forms her costume her civilian identity is a Kree girl named Maggie a teenager
is a Kree girl named Maggie a teenager
is a Kree girl named Maggie a teenager who lives with her grandma on a reserve
who lives with her grandma on a reserve
who lives with her grandma on a reserve known for its UFO sightings
known for its UFO sightings
known for its UFO sightings when she first reveals her powers to the
when she first reveals her powers to the
when she first reveals her powers to the world she’s unsure of what she’s capable
world she’s unsure of what she’s capable
world she’s unsure of what she’s capable of but tells herself I don’t know what I
of but tells herself I don’t know what I
of but tells herself I don’t know what I can do but still I got a freaking try I
can do but still I got a freaking try I
can do but still I got a freaking try I became a filmmaker at 27 and it took me
became a filmmaker at 27 and it took me
became a filmmaker at 27 and it took me that long to realize that Superman
that long to realize that Superman
that long to realize that Superman didn’t want me to be him he wanted me to
didn’t want me to be him he wanted me to
didn’t want me to be him he wanted me to be myself to change the world in the
be myself to change the world in the
be myself to change the world in the ways I could and inspire others to do so
ways I could and inspire others to do so
ways I could and inspire others to do so through her creation I feel that
through her creation I feel that
through her creation I feel that Thunderbird and bodies every single
Thunderbird and bodies every single
Thunderbird and bodies every single thing I thought Superman saw in all of
thing I thought Superman saw in all of
thing I thought Superman saw in all of us we all have strengths and we all have
us we all have strengths and we all have
us we all have strengths and we all have the power to change our worlds writing
the power to change our worlds writing
the power to change our worlds writing and filmmaking have lit me up with the
and filmmaking have lit me up with the
and filmmaking have lit me up with the same inspiration I felt when I first saw
same inspiration I felt when I first saw
same inspiration I felt when I first saw Superman fly and I feel it is my duty to
Superman fly and I feel it is my duty to
Superman fly and I feel it is my duty to help others find that same spark I
help others find that same spark I
help others find that same spark I wanted to end today with a quote from my
wanted to end today with a quote from my
wanted to end today with a quote from my surrogate Papa who is not Cree but I’ve
surrogate Papa who is not Cree but I’ve
surrogate Papa who is not Cree but I’ve adopted him so now he is Leonard Nimoy
adopted him so now he is Leonard Nimoy
adopted him so now he is Leonard Nimoy I’m a great believer and what we have
I’m a great believer and what we have
I’m a great believer and what we have been told by people like Joseph Campbell
been told by people like Joseph Campbell
been told by people like Joseph Campbell find your bliss find out what touches
find your bliss find out what touches
find your bliss find out what touches you the most deeply pursue it learn
you the most deeply pursue it learn
you the most deeply pursue it learn about it explore it expand on it live
about it explore it expand on it live
about it explore it expand on it live with it nurture it
with it nurture it
with it nurture it find your own way and make your own
find your own way and make your own
find your own way and make your own contributions thank you
”
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