Face To Face

On this episode of Face to Face: Desiree Dorion The country music industry, south of the Medicine Line, has long been known as an old boys club where women are underrepresented. On this episode of Face to Face, Desiree Dorion says it’s no better in Canada, especially if you’re a woman of colour.

On this episode of Face to Face: Melissa Robinson Host Dennis Ward leaves the studio and heads to the streets for his interview with Melissa Robinson on the season premiere of Face to Face. Robinson is the cousin of Morgan Harris, one of the victims of a Winnipeg serial killer. She is also the co-chair of Morgan’s Warriors, an outreach group helping some of Winnipeg’s most vulnerable.

Filmmakers, MMIWG2S advocates, doctors, authors, lawyers and a sitting premier were all among the 27 guests featured on this past season of Face to Face. We wrap up season 10 with a look back on some of those episodes and some of the themes that stood out during the past 8 months. Face to Face will return for an 11th season in the fall as we approach our 250th episode.

Over the past four decades, Lisa Meeches has produced countless acclaimed films and television programs. She tells Face to Face there are hopes to renew the series Taken, which told the stories of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Landing the role as Taloa in the Marvel mini-series, Echo wasn’t just a big deal for Katarina Ziervogel as a deaf actor. She says the show, which focuses on a deaf and Indigenous superhero played by Alaqua Cox, is opening the door for other Deaf actors to enter the entertainment industry.

Julian Falconer is a well-known figure in the Canadian legal community and is recognized as one of the country's top human rights lawyers. He tells Face to Face why three families he is representing are calling for the Thunder Bay Police Service to be disbanded.

Cody Lightning played the role of young Viktor in the 1998 cult classic Smoke Signals. On Face to Face, he shares his journey to write, direct and star in Hey Viktor, a mockumentary about Cody’s attempt to make the sequel, Smoke Signals 2: Still Smoking.

The Indigenous Screen Office recently celebrated the news of long-term stable funding. The ISO was launched in 2017 to champion Indigenous screen-based storytellers and through funding and advocacy work. On this Face to Face CEO Kerry Swanson explains the importance of the ISO.

In December 2023, Dr. Rebekah Neckoway became the first Indigenous chief medical officer to be appointed in Ontario. On this Face to Face, she says it’s an honour and hopes the appointment will set a precedent for other provinces and territories.

Award-winning author Michael Hutchinson’s mystery series Mighty Muskrats has been praised for its cultural and historic context and young kid's rez humour. He shares how he wants the series to help educate youth on First Nations issues.

Lance Cardinal has made a name for himself by bringing Indigenous and Two-Spirit representation to public spaces and the small screen. Known for his vibrant murals and zest for life, it seems Lance's goal is to create positivity wherever he goes.

Kelvin Redvers has been working in the film and television industry for two decades but has just released his first feature film. The thriller, Cold Road, is about an Indigenous woman and her dog being hunted by a stranger in a semi-truck on an isolated highway in the North.

Since the death of his son Harlan to an accidental drug poisoning, Joseph Fourre has been raising awareness about the harms of drugs with a campaign to youth call No Thanks I'm Good. On Face to Face, Fourre discusses his son, the campaign and his past.

President, chief operating officer, band councilor and consultant on the set of Blackstone, Dean Janvier has done it all. Growing up, it was the big screen that most interested Janvier, but it wasn’t meant to be. A “fluke” job at the Assembly of First Nations has resulted in decades of work in First Nations and Canadian politics, economic development and Nation building. Janvier, who is Dene and a member of the Cold Lake First Nations in northeastern Alberta, is now a partner in audit and assurance at Deloitte Canada.

Award-winning Ojibway playwright, novelist and filmmaker Drew Hayden Taylor is the author of more than 30 pieces of work. On this episode of Face to Face, Taylor says any and all topics, no matter how difficult the subject, can be discussed through humour.

For nearly 20 years, Sara Mainville has been practicing law in areas such as self-government and advancing treaty implementation. It’s important work, but it can also move at a “glacial pace,” says the Anishinaabe lawyer on this episode of Face to Face.

Politics was not Edmonton city councillor Aaron Paquette’s first passion. Art was a way for Paquette to express himself. On this episode of Face to Face, the award-winning author and artist discusses his journey from the grassroots to political office.

Prior to becoming the premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew was a rapper, broadcaster and university administrator. Right out of the gate, Kinew was seen as a rising star and a potential future leader of the Manitoba NDP. But before even being elected, there were tough questions about his past.

It is often said that Winnipeg and Manitoba are ground zero for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse peoples. Long-time advocate, Sandra Delaronde agrees with that assessment and believes the statistics show it will continue to be.

Jennifer Laewetz, known as Jennifer Elle online, is a policy analyst and communications professional who works for Warshield, an Indigenous-owned and led consulting firm. On this episode of Face to Face, she shares her thoughts on the AFN, whether she’ll run for office and harassment online.