REGINA — Long before cameras arrived in Indigenous communities, stories were already being told.
They were carried through songs, ceremonies, languages and generations of oral tradition. They preserved histories, taught lessons, celebrated resilience and connected people to the land and to one another.
Today, those stories are finding new life on movie screens, television networks and streaming platforms around the world.
But for many Indigenous creators, the next chapter is not simply about telling stories.
It is about owning them.
That is the driving force behind the latest edition of the Filmmakers in Indigenous Leadership Management & Business Affairs program, known as FILMBA, which recently welcomed a new cohort of First Nations, Métis and Inuit filmmakers from across Canada.
Delivered through Capilano University's Indigenous Digital Accelerator and supported by the Indigenous Screen Office and TD Ready Commitment, the program is helping Indigenous producers build the skills needed not only to create films, but to build sustainable production companies capable of leading Canada's rapidly growing Indigenous screen sector.
Among the participants selected for the 2026 cohort is Regina filmmaker, journalist and entrepreneur Bee Bird, founder and CEO of B Productions Incorporated.
For Bird, the significance of the program extends far beyond filmmaking.
"It's important because ownership gives us control over how our stories are told and shared," Bird said.
"For a long time, Indigenous stories were told by people from outside our communities. When we own the production companies, we get to make the creative decisions, create those opportunities for our people and keep the benefits in our community."
"At the end of the day, our ownership means our stories and future stay in our hands."
His words reflect a broader transformation taking place across Canada's cultural landscape.
Over the last decade, Indigenous storytelling has experienced unprecedented growth. Indigenous creators are earning recognition at major film festivals, securing international distribution deals and attracting audiences eager for stories grounded in authenticity and lived experience. Productions such as *Reservation Dogs*, *Little Bird*, *Bones of Crows* and *Night Raiders* have demonstrated both the artistic and commercial potential of Indigenous-led storytelling.
Yet industry leaders say significant barriers remain.
While opportunities for Indigenous writers, actors and directors have expanded, there remains a shortage of Indigenous producers equipped to navigate the complex business side of filmmaking. Producers are often the architects behind a project's success, responsible for financing, legal agreements, budgeting, distribution, partnerships and long-term sustainability.
Without them, many stories never make it beyond the script stage.
That reality inspired Doreen Manuel, Director of the Bosa Centre for Film and Animation and Inclusive Community Projects at Capilano University, to create FILMBA.
After more than two decades working in film and television, including thirteen years leading Indigenous filmmaking education at Capilano, Manuel repeatedly saw talented Indigenous creators emerge from training programs only to encounter a gap in the industry.
"There are so many Indigenous stories waiting to be told on the screen," Manuel explained.
"While there are producers that can bring these stories to life, we need specifically Indigenous producers leading this content to ensure that stories stay authentic and that writers, directors and filmmakers know there are producers to work with who culturally understand their stories."
The program was built to address that challenge directly.
Over 11 weeks, participants receive training in financing, budgeting, insurance, intellectual property, contract negotiation, distribution strategies, production management and leadership development. They also receive mentorship from established industry professionals while advancing feature film projects of their own.
The goal is ambitious but straightforward: create Indigenous-owned companies that can develop Indigenous-led projects for generations to come.
For Bird, the focus on business education is one of the program's greatest strengths.
"A lot of filmmakers come in for the storytelling. That's what draws us in. It's a big part of our culture," he said.
"But to sustain a career, you need to understand the budgets, the contracts, the funding, intellectual property and the business side. The business side is what keeps the creative side going."
That lesson is particularly important for filmmakers working outside major production centres.
For many Indigenous creatives living in rural, northern or remote communities, access to training, mentorship and industry connections remains one of the largest obstacles to entering the sector.
"One of the biggest barriers is access," Bird said.
"Access to funding, to training, to mentorship. Industry connections can be hard, especially in smaller communities. It can feel overwhelming when you don't have those relationships or know where to start."
"Talent isn't the issue. Access is."
FILMBA was intentionally designed to remove many of those barriers.
Because the program is delivered online, participants can join from their home communities rather than relocating to major urban centres. This year's cohort stretches across the country, representing Indigenous Nations and communities from British Columbia to Quebec.
The approach reflects a growing recognition that Indigenous creators should not have to leave their communities behind in order to build careers in film.
Instead, the industry is increasingly coming to them.
For Bird, one of the most exciting aspects of the program has been seeing the diversity of voices represented within the cohort.
"There are 24 of us in the program," he said.
"We're seeing Indigenous filmmakers work in every genre now. Stories about identity, family and language, but also science fiction, comedy, romance and everyday life."
"We're not one story, and people are finally starting to see that."
That diversity is helping reshape public perceptions of Indigenous storytelling itself.
For decades, Indigenous stories in mainstream media were often limited to historical narratives or depictions rooted in trauma. Today's Indigenous filmmakers are broadening that lens, creating stories that are contemporary, complex and reflective of the full spectrum of Indigenous experiences.
They are telling stories about love and loss.
Comedy and adventure.
Family and friendship.
Business and innovation.
They are creating thrillers, documentaries, dramas, romances and science fiction.
And increasingly, they are doing so on their own terms.
Bird believes that is where the future of Indigenous filmmaking lies.
Success, he says, should not be measured solely by awards or box-office numbers. It should be measured by the opportunities created for others.
His own company, B Productions, has already earned recognition through honours including the RBC Emerging Indigenous Entrepreneur Award, Power Pitch, the Clar Wilk and Associates Legacy Award and the Canadian Choice Awards. He is currently developing a feature film titled *Where the City Divides*, a project exploring Indigenous identity, resilience, family and belonging.
The mentorship he has already received through FILMBA, he says, has been invaluable.
"Mentorship can be a game changer," Bird said.
"Learning from people who have already been through it saves you years of trial and error. It gives you guidance, confidence and real direction on how to move forward."
Looking ahead, he sees a future where Indigenous creators are not simply participating in Canada's screen industry, but leading it.
"I'd like to see more Indigenous-owned companies making feature films and television on a regular basis," he said.
"I'd like to see Indigenous filmmakers leading at every level and creating space for that next generation too."
As Canada's Indigenous screen sector continues to grow, programs like FILMBA are doing more than teaching business skills.
They are helping build infrastructure.
They are creating pathways.
They are strengthening communities.
And they are ensuring that the next generation of Indigenous storytellers will not have to ask permission to tell their stories.
They will own the cameras, the companies and the future.
"If I can create opportunities for others while telling authentic stories," Bird said, "that's what success looks like to me."
