Mentors

mentors

In the space between teacher and student, a third thing is born – something that belongs to neither and transforms both. This is the magic of mentorship, the alchemy that turns experience into legacy and potential into purpose.

the space between teacher and student

In the quiet moments between knowledge shared and wisdom gained, there exists a sacred space. A space where stories pass from one generation to the next, where experience meets potential, where the ancient practice of mentorship transforms both the guide and the guided.

The Mentor Program is not simply about teaching skills or sharing contacts. It is about rekindling the timeless tradition of elders and youth sitting together around the fire, exchanging not just techniques, but ways of seeing, ways of being, ways of creating that honor both what has come before and what is yet to emerge.

When a young artist finds their hand steadied by one who has walked the path before them, something profound happens in that touch – a current flows between them, carrying cultural memory, technical knowledge, and the unspoken understanding that creativity is both deeply personal and inherently communal.

This is the space we hold. This is the connection we honor. This is the future we build, one relationship at a time.

The only thing we can leave behind for all those coming after

are the tools – and the only tools that will last and always be relevant is Good Story

Stories were never meant to be just watched – they were meant to be lived, carried, and returned to the fire.

The Mentor Program is a living bridge connecting emerging artists with established creators across all forms of expression. We recognize that creativity flows through every aspect of life – from traditional filmmaking and photography to writing, visual arts, music, and beyond. Life itself is art, and every voice around our digital campfire brings value to the circle.

We pair promising young talents, particularly those from indigenous and remote communities, with accomplished mentors who can help them navigate both the practical and spiritual dimensions of creative practice. These relationships transcend conventional teaching models, creating instead a reciprocal exchange where both parties grow, learn, and transform through their connection.

The program operates at the intersection of cultural preservation and innovation, honoring traditional knowledge while embracing new forms of expression. Through these carefully cultivated relationships, we nurture not just individual artists but entire ecosystems of creativity that will sustain communities for generations to come.

Our mentors are more than just successful in their fields – they are committed to the principle of giving back, of ensuring that the ladder they climbed remains accessible to those who follow. They understand that true mastery includes the responsibility to share, to guide, to hold space for new voices to emerge and flourish.

The only thing we can leave behind for all those coming after

are the tools – and the only tools that will last and always be relevant is Good Story

Stories were never meant to be just watched – they were meant to be lived, carried, and returned to the fire.

When a young artist finds their hand steadied by one who has walked before them, ripples of transformation extend far beyond that single relationship. The mentee discovers not just techniques but their place in a lineage of creators stretching back through time. They learn to see their work not as a commodity but as a contribution to their community and the broader world. They find the courage to resist the pressure to dilute their vision for mass consumption, instead creating work that speaks with authenticity and purpose.

For the mentors, the gift is equally profound. In sharing their knowledge, they find renewed purpose and perspective. They see their field through fresh eyes, challenged and inspired by questions they stopped asking long ago. They reconnect with the core of why they began creating in the first place, before industry demands and commercial pressures clouded that initial spark. In nurturing new voices, they ensure that the wisdom they’ve gained through years of practice continues to evolve rather than ending with them.

The industry itself – too often driven by formulas and fear – is gradually transformed as these authentic voices rise. New stories emerge that challenge tired narratives. Fresh perspectives break open calcified thinking. The creative landscape becomes more diverse not just in who creates but in what is created and how it reaches audiences. What was once a monologue becomes a conversation, a chorus of voices speaking truth from different lived experiences.

But perhaps the most profound impact is on the communities from which these artists emerge. When young people see their stories honored, their cultural expressions valued, their unique perspectives celebrated, they carry that validation back home. They become living proof that their community’s stories matter, that their traditions have contemporary relevance, that their voices deserve to be heard. They become bridges between worlds, translators of experience, weavers connecting threads that have been severed.

the circle continues

The heart of the Mentor Program lies in thoughtful, intentional pairing. We don’t simply match people based on shared disciplines or technical needs. We consider the whole person – their cultural background, their creative vision, their personal journey, and the unique gifts they bring to the relationship.

Our matching process involves:
Deep listening to both mentors and mentees to understand their needs, strengths, and aspirations.
Consideration of cultural contexts and the importance of culturally safe learning environments
Attention to complementary communication styles and working methods.
Recognition of both technical skills and life wisdom that can be shared.
Awareness of the chemistry that makes a mentoring relationship truly transformative

Once paired, each mentor-mentee relationship develops its own rhythm and focus, with guidance and support from our program coordinators who check in regularly to ensure the connection is flourishing.

Ensuring stories continue to breathe, to guide, to shape a future where we re-become custodians of creation, moving in harmony with all that sustains us.

creative fields

This is where stories take form – on canvas, in light, through motion and memory. Our Creative Fields are not just disciplines; they are expressions of Country, kinship, and truth. From film to photography, from design to digital storytelling, each medium becomes a vessel for ancestral echoes and future dreaming. We create not to impress, but to impress upon – to leave a trace that others can follow home.

visual storytelling

Filmmaking and documentary

•Photography and photojournalism

•Animation and digital arts

•Visual arts and illustration

narrative arts

Screenwriting and script development

•Creative writing and poetry

•Oral storytelling and performance

•Journalism and non-fiction

performing arts

Music and sound design

•Dance and movement

•Theatre and dramatic arts

•Traditional ceremonial practices

applied creativity

Design and architecture

•Fashion and textile arts

•Culinary arts and food sovereignty

•Environmental and land-based practices

Reciprocal Filmmaking Models

We champion a revolutionary approach where communities are not merely subjects, but active participants, directors, and owners of their stories.

Strategic Consulting & Decolonization

We collaborate with non-profits, brands, and organizations to decolonize their storytelling practices, guiding them to share messages in ways that honor Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and relating.

the circle continues

The Mentor Program is not a pipeline producing content creators for an industry that commodifies culture. It is a sacred circle where knowledge flows in all directions – from mentor to mentee, from mentee to mentor, from both to their communities and the wider world. It is a remembering of how creative wisdom has always been transmitted: not through institutions but through relationships, not through transactions but through generosity, not through competition but through collaboration.

In a time when so many young artists are told to build their brand before they’ve found their voice, we offer a different path – one that honors the depth and purpose of creative expression. We recognize that the most powerful art emerges not from isolation but from connection, not from imitation but from authenticity, not from market research but from lived experience and cultural memory.

This is how we change the story – one relationship at a time, one artist at a time, one truth at a time. This is how we ensure that the voices most needed are the ones most clearly heard. This is how we remember that creativity is not a luxury but a birthright, not a commodity but a medicine, not an escape from reality but a way of seeing it more clearly.

Join us around this fire. There is a place for you here, whether you come to share your wisdom or to receive it. The circle is always open, always growing, always remembering the ancient ways of teaching and learning that have sustained cultures since time beyond memory. This is not just mentorship. This is remembering who we are and why we create.

Ensuring stories continue to breathe, to guide, to shape a future where we re-become custodians of creation, moving in harmony with all that sustains us.

become a part of the circle

Walk alongside wisdom keepers, storytellers, and cultural custodians—where learning is relational, guidance is grounded in lived experience, and knowledge is passed hand to hand, not top down. This isn’t just a program; it’s a pathway back into right relation.

mentee

If you are a young artist with a burning vision, a story that needs telling, or a creative practice seeking guidance, we invite you to apply to be a mentee in the Mentor Program.

The application process is designed to be accessible and respectful, focusing on your unique voice and vision rather than formal credentials or previous recognition. We want to know who you are, what drives your creative practice, and how mentorship might help you grow.

Indigenous youth connected to their cultural traditions
Young people from remote or underserved communities
Emerging artists with limited access to formal training
Creators working in both traditional and contemporary forms

mentor

If you are an established artist with experience to share, wisdom to offer, and a commitment to nurturing the next generation of creative voices, we invite you to join our circle of mentors. Our mentors come from diverse backgrounds and work across many disciplines, but they share a common understanding that passing on knowledge is not just a responsibility but a privilege and a joy.

Committing to regular engagement with your mentee over the course of a year

•Sharing not just technical skills but insights into the creative journey

•Approaching the relationship with openness to mutual learning and growth

•Helping to build bridges between traditional knowledge and contemporary practice

•Becoming part of a community of mentors who support each other

support the fire

The Mentor Program is built on the principle of reciprocity – the understanding that when we give, we also receive, and that true wealth lies in relationships rather than resources. We invite you to participate in this circle of giving by supporting the program financially.

Every donation, regardless of size, helps to keep the fire burning and ensures that the ancient practice of mentorship continues to illuminate new pathways for creative expression and cultural continuity.

Provide stipends for mentees from economically disadvantaged backgrounds

•Offer honoraria that recognize the time and wisdom of our mentors

•Supply necessary equipment and materials for creative projects

•Facilitate gatherings where mentors and mentees can connect in person

•Document and share the stories and works that emerge from these relationships

the circle continues