November 3, 2021 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Executive Producer David Christensen announced today that Niki Little, former Artistic Director at imagineNATIVE, is joining the NFB’s North West Studio as a Producer, based out of the studio’s Winnipeg office.

Niki Little is a mother, artist/observer/curator and arts administrator. Along with Jaimie Isaac and Jenny Western, she was a founding member of The Ephemerals, who were long-listed twice for the Sobey Art Award.

Little is of Anishininew (Oji-Cree)/British descent from Kistiganwacheeng (Garden Hill First Nation, MB), based in Winnipeg. Her interests lie in artistic and curatorial strategies that investigate immersive and non-linear storytelling, multi-generations and Indigenous continuums.

For over 12 years, Little has been an art and cultural worker producing large creative projects through an Indigenous and community-based lens. From 2019–2021, she was the Artistic Director at imagineNATIVE. Prior to that, Little was the Director of the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC). At NIMAC, Little organized Listen, Witness, Transmit, a 2018 national Indigenous media arts gathering in Saskatoon that included roundtables, performances, screenings and exhibitions.

As an independent curator, Little and Becca Taylor 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. 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,” said Julie Roy, Director General, Creation and Innovation.

“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. 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,” said David Christensen.

– 30 –

French version here | Version française ici.