SGI SOLSTICE SPEAKER SERIES: Stories Can Build Bridges and Heal

Join us for a conversation with award winning actress, producer, director, and CEO of Redcloud Studios, Jennifer Podemski.

As a result of her recognition in the Canadian film and television industry, Jennifer shifted her focus on producing in her attempt to address the lack of Indigenous representation in the industry. Her latest project, Little Bird, is a ground-breaking new series—available on Crave and APTN—that explores themes of trauma, loss, and resilience. The series has garnered lots of media coverage and acclaim for its unique storytelling of Indigenous history. Jennifer will share her unique and authentic perspectives, drawing on her own experiences as an Indigenous woman in the entertainment industry that will inspire and empower audiences.

Tea and bannock will be served.

All the speaker series presentations will be recorded and shared online by the RSM. By attending this event, you are giving permission to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and the Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum to use photographs or videos that may contain your likeness for promotional purposes. Photographs or videos may be shared in print material, on the website for the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, or on social media. Please identify yourself to our photographer or registration staff if you do not wish to be photographed.

Jennifer Podemski, who has a background of both Anishinaabe (First Nation) and Ashkenazi (Jewish) descent, began her professional acting career at the age of 17 and her breakthrough role was in the film Dance Me Outside, where she portrayed the character of Sadie. This performance received great critical acclaim and solidified her place in Canada’s film and television industry. Her success as an actress has earned her nominations for several Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Actress and Best Screenplay.   

With her recognition, Jennifer shifted her career focus into producing, co-founding Big Soul Productions production company and later launching her own production company, Redcloud Studios. Big Soul Productions produced a wide range of documentaries, television series and short films, including the award-winning series, Moccasin Flats. Now—a creator, producer, writer, and director through her company Redcloud Studios— Jennifer’s recent credits include documentary series, Future History, for which she received the 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Factual Director. 

Her latest project, Little Bird, is a ground-breaking new series—available on Crave and APTN—that explores themes of trauma, loss, and resilience. The series has garnered lots of media coverage and acclaim for its unique storytelling of Indigenous history.

Jennifer is the recipient of the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work in the Indigenous community, The Birks Diamond Tribute Award, the Nell Shipman Showrunner Award, The 2018 ACTRA Award of Excellence and The Weengushk Film Institute’s 2021 Award of Excellence.

To continue her vision to amplify the voices of Indigenous women, she launched The Shine Network in 2020, a non-profit digital platform designed to offer professional development opportunities for Indigenous women content creators. 

Built around the natural calendar, the four-part Indigenous speaker series provides an opportunity to reflect on the emotion and changes that happen each season. Topics are current, thought provoking, and designed to create active participation towards Truth and Reconciliation. Solstice Speaker Series presentations will be recorded and shared online by the RSM.

The Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum is a nonprofit charitable organization that works with the RSM to provide educational opportunities and services, including funding new exhibits, programs, and environmental research. All of which are crucial to help preserve Saskatchewan’s rich natural and human history for generations to come.