Unequivocal Solidarity: BIPOC TV & Film reaffirms support for the Indigenous Screen Office
Toronto, ON | April 20, 2023 – BIPOC TV & Film supports the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) in their call for an earlier decision on their request for increased and stable funding. Their pre-budget submission including data and testimonials demonstrated the significance of their work to date. As stated in the ISO’s letter of disappointment, “ISO’s three-year funding commitment of $13 million per year from Canadian Heritage expires at the end of the next fiscal year, March 31, 2024, and without a guarantee of additional and permanent funding, the organization is at considerable risk.”
BIPOC TV & Film is in unequivocal solidarity with the Indigenous Screen Office. The ISO does groundbreaking work that directly supports and elevates First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples within the screen, arts and culture sectors and is their stakeholder voice in the industry.
Ever since the ISO was founded, BIPOC TV & Film has seen the national screen institution act with unparalleled integrity, accountability, sincerity, and a purposeful drive to improve the lives of Indigenous peoples as well as Canadians through the power of storytelling. These are qualities lacking in other institutions in the Minister of Canadian Heritage's portfolio. As a leader in the industry, ISO has set the standard for legacy institutions such as Telefilm, CMF, CBC, NFB to follow. A standard which allows for the building of a new media landscape that prioritizes an equitable distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities to deserving communities over the privileging of a select few individuals. The Indigenous Screen Office has invested its $13 million Heritage contributions into the screen sector responsibly, building an exceptionally formidable renaissance of Indigenous and Canadian screen experiences, a feat that should be applauded and rewarded, especially for an organization so young and with exciting potential.
The ISO’s letter further states, “The organization’s work in advocacy, funding policy, program design and delivery, eligibility, narrative sovereignty and protocols have been replicated and advanced across the industry, where ISO is widely acknowledged as a leading organization.” It is important that Minister of Canadian Heritage see the Indigenous Screen Office as a permanent stalwart, thought leader, and necessary funding institution in our industry that can not be replaced with enhanced funding programs for Indigenous peoples from other screen organizations that are not led by Indigenous peoples and driven by the mandate of the ISO. While those programs are appreciated, ISO's investment into the screen sector should be seen as complementary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage's portfolio rather than supplementary.
Without the ISO’s imperative work and leadership, our industry would seriously regress, losing essential talent and stories that lay the foundation of our national creative landscape. BIPOC TV & Film urges the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Minister of Finance to reconsider the budget to include funding the important and vital work of the Indigenous Screen Office.