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August 2006
 Shannon
Letandre (Ojibwe/Cree) is working on her second BA
in film production at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec.
She directed Nganawendaanan Nde'ing (I Keep Them in My Heart)
through First Stories, a competitive documentary production program
coordinated by the NFB Prairie Centre. Letandre learned video
production through the Aboriginal Filmmaker's Training Program
of the Winnipeg Film Group. She has worked as a researcher for
the Stolen Generations Project at the Ma Mawi Chi Itata Centre
in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which gathered the oral histories of Aboriginal
adoptees. She has also coordinated youth seminars for the Interlake
Reserves Tribal Council in Fairford, Manitoba, and managed the
Anama Bay Tourist Camp. Letandre received her first BA from the
University of Winnipeg, where she won the Dieter Hoehne Memorial
Scholarship, awarded to the Aboriginal student with the highest
academic standing in the department of political science. She
was raised at Dauphin River First Nation and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
"I am here today because of the resilience and perseverance
of strong people. I feel that it is so important for us to tell
our stories. I believe that expressing ourselves through all forms
of art (film included) is a way of healing -- it's good for the
soul. I feel honoured to be involved in helping to make our voices
heard."
Screened by NMAI
Image credits:
Shannon Letandre - photograph by Tony Nardella, courtesy of the
National Film Board; Shannon Letandre with her grandfather Alex
Letandre - courtesy of the National Film Board
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