A Garden Hill First Nation member has joined the National Film Board of Canada’s North West Studio in Winnipeg as a producer.
Niki Little, an artist, curator and arts administrator of Anishininew (Oji-Cree) and British descent who is based in Winnipeg, has been an arts and cultural worker producing large creative projects though an Indigenous and community lens for more than a decade. She was the artistic director at the ImagineNATIVE film and media arts festival from 2019 to 2021 and previously served as director of the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC). As NIMAC director she organized a 2018 national Indigenous media arts gathering in Saskatoon. Little also co-curated níchiwamiskwém | nimidet | my sister | ma soeur, the Biennale d’Art Contemporain Autochtone 2018 (BACA) in Montreal and surrounding areas, and co-hosted Migration, a three-week on-the-land residency in Demmitt, Alberta, grounded in exploration around Indigenous economies and research as ceremony. Little was also part of the commissioned, co-curated 2020 exhibition Nests for the End of the World at the Art Gallery of Alberta, with collaborator Bruno Canadien.
“I’m delighted to welcome Niki Little to the North West Studio and our NFB team,” said NFB’s director general of creation and innovation Julie Roy. "She joins Indigenous producers Chehala Leonard, also newly hired at the North West Studio, Coty Savard and of course legendary filmmaker/producer Alanis Obomsawin. Niki’s strong background and experience will be a great addition to the NFB and to our institutional commitment to advance authentic Indigenous voices and perspectives, and uphold important stories to be told.”
“Our Winnipeg office has a long and storied track record and deep roots in the community—Niki brings an impressive background as a creator and producer and I know she’ll be a great addition to our team there,” said NFB executive producer David Christensen. “Her skills, vision, work ethic and spirit of collaboration are going to benefit directors, co-producers and partners in Manitoba, the Prairies and across the North.”
