Special Film Screening: Here to Stay

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Date: Jun 14
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Where: Theatre

A special screening of "Here to Stay," a new documentary series directed by award-winning Nunatsiavut Inuk filmmaker, Jessica Brown, showcasing the personal stories and vibrant art and culture of the urban Indigenous community in St. John's, NL.

Following the screening, Director Jessica Brown will lead a discussion with special guests. Artist Nelson White, Inuk throat singer Sophie Agnatok, and activist Cole Kippenhuck join Jessica for a discussion moderated by The Rooms Indigenous Cultural Liaison Sharon Harvey.

Tickets: $12 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms Members. Get your tickets online or by calling (709)757-8090.

About the panelists:

Jessica Brown: (she/her), an esteemed award-winning Nunatsiavut Inuk filmmaker, is based in St. John's, NL. She takes pride in being the owner of Ujarak Media and is at the forefront of creating groundbreaking content that showcases the rich diversity and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities.

As the Founder of the Northern Film Initiative, she actively works towards providing platforms and opportunities for Indigenous voices to be heard and celebrated. Jessica is a passionate advocate for the representation of Indigenous people in Canada's entertainment industry and has received numerous awards for her exceptional talent and contributions. Her commitment to empowering future generations through meaningful storytelling serves as an inspiration to aspiring filmmakers. Additionally, Jessica holds the position of Newfoundland and Labrador Representative of Doc Atlantic, a chapter of the Documentary Organization of Canada.

Cole Kippenhuck (they/them) is a Two Spirit Inuk Labradorian with 20+ years of experience in the community sector, including nonprofits, consulting, and government work. They are a life coach and advocate for reconciliation, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, and social justice issues. As a knowledge keeper, Cole holds ceremonies, protects land, and walks spiritually. They are fluid in their sexuality, gender, and relationships as an act of cultural reclamation.

Sophie Angnatok (she/her), an Inuk performer originally from Nain, Nunatsiavut, was inspired by a newspaper clip of her Anasiak, Elizabeth Andersen. Sophie has been practicing the art of throat singing and traditional Inuit drumming for nearly two decades. She has performed for diverse audiences locally and across the country, participating in many festivals, community functions, and arts-based events. Notably, she performed for the Prime Minister during The Truth and Reconciliation apology for Labrador  Inuit. Sophie currently resides in St. John’s, where she actively engages with her local urban Inuit community, sharing her love and knowledge of Inuit culture and serving as a leader in her practice.

Nelson White is an artist and member of the Flat Bay First Nation Band (No'kmaq Village) in Newfoundland. He is the son of respected elder Calvin White who was awarded the Order of Canada for his lifetime of lobbying for the rights of Mi'kmaq people.

Nelson attended the Visual Arts program at the Bay St. George Community College in Stephenville, NL and Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, NS. Nelson exhibits throughout Canada and the USA in both group and solo touring shows such as Tukien (Awaken) which toured 5 institutional galleries.

His work has been featured on CBC’s The National and in Visual Arts News. His paintings are collected across North America, including the Provincial Art Collection of NL, NS, PEI and the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. In 2021 White participated in the Fogo Island Arts International Residency and in 2022 a residency with OceanGate / Miawpukek Horizon that took him on an expedition to the Titanic Wreck site. He was named ArtsNL Artist of the Year for 2020 and the winner of 2022 VANL CARFAC Excellence in Visual Arts Milestone Award.

Nelson currently lives in St. John’s, NL with his family