September 2006
 Laura
Milliken (Ojibwe) is the producer of the television
series Moccasin Flats, which portrays the contemporary
lives of Aboriginal young people. In 1999 Milliken partnered with
Jennifer Podemski to found the Toronto-based company Big Soul
Productions, to create music videos, short features, and television
series. In 2006 Big Soul initiated Project One Generation, professional
media training workshops in which Native youth and adults work
with mentors to produce works that encourage viewers to 'be the
one generation' to break a cycle that adversely affects families,
communities and the planet. In 2001 Milliken received the Ross
Charles Award to participate in the five-week course "Writing
for Television-Aboriginal Storytellers" at the Banff Center
in Alberta and in 2002 she participated in the Sundance Institute's
Independent Producers Conference. Milliken is the former associate
producer and director of public affairs for Canada's National
Aboriginal Achievement Awards, held annually since 1993.
"Aboriginal youth are the fastest-growing segment of Canada's
population, but the least represented in all forms of media, and
so, they do not feel empowered. The only way to change that is
to get ourselves in the media. But I want to show youth that acting
is not the only option. We need more Aboriginal writers, story
editors, directors, grips, gaffers, production managers, art directors,
caterers, costume designers, cinematographers and of course, producers!
We have an opportunity to create our own industry within the industry...we
just need to help each other get there and not lose sight of that
goal."
Screened by NMAI
Image credit:
Laura Milliken - photograph by Tim Warner
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