Two Indigenous producers who have been working in the entertainment and broadcast industry for over 20 years are launching their first television series.
“We are revitalizing our passion for our profession; it’s the dawn of a new day for us,” said Shirley McLean, who is a member of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation in the Yukon.
In 2020, she and Tania Koenig-Gauchier created Vancouver-based Wapanatahk Media which in Cree means “the first morning star of the day.”
McLean said the name represents starting fresh again even though they’ve been in the business since the 1990s.
“Indigenous stories are making national headlines and in mainstream media — it’s not a niche market anymore,” McLean said.
The company’s first series, Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet premiered on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network on May 3 in Cree and in English on May 4.
The docuseries is based in rural Alberta and is about a young Métis woman who followed her dream to become a veterinarian.
Kerry Moraes-Sugiyama, manager of original programming at APTN, worked with Koenig-Gauchier and McLean on the production of the series from the beginning.
“Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet is absolutely amazing in gender parity because 10 of their 15 key creators are female,” Moraes-Sugiyama said.
“We come from a matriarchal culture where women have powerful voices and it’s very reflective in our traditional culture. We [also] have fantastic female role models out there in many professions.”
Wapanatahk Media also aims to bring Indigenous stories to the forefront of mainstream media with authentic representation.
“Representation definitely matters,” said Koenig-Gauchier, who is Cree-Métis.
“Our people are funny. They’re fun. We’re family-oriented. We love our communities. We also want to bring shows to mainstream networks that have never seen Indigenous peoples portrayed in this way before.”
A companion podcast to the series launched May 18 and is available on all major streaming services.
