1. Where did you do your internship while in MRU Journalism?
Canada Bridges
2. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have liked to give yourself as you started your internship?
Show up every day and ask questions. Expectations are low when you're an intern. Take risks. Be bold.
3. What is something that really stands out when you think about your time at MRU Journalism?
The MRU Journalism program offers a lot of opportunities for hands-on learning in many different mediums. I enjoyed testing my creativity in all forms of storytelling. I also really appreciated the care and attention paid to ethical storytelling and the nuances of reporting to sensitive subject matter.
4. How transferrable were the skills you acquired in your education?
It is very transferrable. I came into the program already with a film background but to spend four years further honing that craft and expanding my perspective made me the filmmaker I am today. I learned so much through constantly interviewing strangers, shooting video all the time, and thinking critically about the stories I was telling. By the time I started my career and making films full time I had tons of confidence and capacity.
5. In your career, what type of work has most excited you, and why?
Connecting with my community through storytelling. To give back to my community through my passion is very rewarding and energizing. It's not always easy work but it's always worth it.
6. What is the most important but unwritten rule that you’ve learned on the job?
A Diné filmmaker named Shaandiin Tome once told me to make emotional decisions when filmmaking. To move the camera when it feels right. To make that cut when it feels right. Rather than make a technical decision. Storytelling is fluid, it's not formulaic. It's a seemingly hard concept to practice but at the end of the day your instincts are what makes you unique.
7. Who has most inspired you along the way, and why?
My late grandfather Sonny Solway. His generation worked hard and sacrificed for our generation to achieve our dreams. Every decision that I make I'm thinking of my community and how I am going to share the opportunities and growth. He taught that it's beautiful to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
8. Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience in MRU Journalism?
I appreciate the lessons, wisdom and time given to me by my professors and mentors during my stay at MRU.
