Our Team
A constant flow of Teachers and Sharers of Knowledge will gift the artists with their experience, as we guide the youth toward creating the stories they wish to tell
Grace’s Top 5 Films
Dances with Wolves
Interstellar
Tree of life
Romeo and Juliet (Baz Lurman)
Big Fish
Grace Hardy
Project Manager
Grace Hardy, a member of the Kikino Métis Settlement who has worked in the indigenous non for profit sector as well as years in the makeup industry. Since moving back to the settlement she found a passion working for and with indigenous youth.
Working with Tap Root has been one of the most rewarding opportunities for Grace as it focuses directly on Métis culture, youth programming and working in her community.
The creativity I am so fortunate to experience, witness and help cultivate has been such an amazing and rewarding experience.
-Grace
Barry’s Top 5 Films
Dumbo (1941 film)
Life is Beautiful
Twin Peaks
Fargo
Apocalypse Now
Barry Bilinsky
Artistic Director
Barry Bilinksy is a professional theatre creator of Cree, Métis, and Ukrainian heritage. Based in Montréal, he has worked across Canada on projects centred primarily around the proliferation of Indigenous arts, artists, and collaborations. Barry is committed to developing safe, authentic, respectful creations that challenge the overarching cultural assumptions we often face in the performing arts community.
Taproot is unique I find, because instead of starting with the end in mind - the dreams, the gigs, the possibilities- Tantoo has envisioned a place where Métis excellence is already understood.
We aren't trying to make future artists, we are helping current artists out along the journey they have already begun.
I am most excited by the enthusiasm of the youth and parents alike to see Kikino represented on screen their own way. And I'm grateful to help make that happen.
- Barry
Kennedy’s Top 5 Films
Pride and Prejudice (2005 film)
Little Women (2019 film)
Into the Wild
Lady Bird
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Kennedy Whitford
Program Assistant
Kennedy Whitford is a Métis and Cree from the Kikino Métis Settlement who has spent years working with youth in the local education system. She is currently completing a bachelors degree in elementary education with the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program via the University of Alberta. Working with Tap Root as the Program Assistant has reaffirmed her love and passion for Indigenous youth.
I feel incredibly fortunate to be apart of Tap Root. To witness the youth envision, write, & create stories has been such an amazing experience. I cannot wait to see what else these amazing youth do & to support them along the way!
- Kennedy
Jillian’s Top 5 Films
Let The Right One In
Clueless
Wolf of Wall Street
Romeo and Juliet
Never Ending Story
Jillian Dion
Acting Coach & Mentor
Jillian Dion is a Canadian actress of Plains Cree, and French Canadian descent, who belongs to the Saddle Lake Cree Nation of Alberta.
She began acting at age 17 and made the decision to attend Vancouver Film School shortly after - graduating from the schools Acting for Film and Television program.
Since then, Jillian has appeared in projects including ABC's "Alaska Daily", Hallmark's "When Calls the Heart", Freeform's "Motherland: Fort Salem", FX's "Legion", and TNT's “Into the West”.
Next, Jillian is set to appear as Minnie in Killers of the Flower Moon. The upcoming Martin Scorsese directed feature, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone and will be released in October 2023.
Its been so incredibly cool to see these youths really develop their skills and watch their personal growth over my time with them at Taproot – the opportunity to hone in on such valuable artistry and in such a supportive environment is wonderful to be a part of. Im always so excited to come back to Kikino and see them and watch what they so masterfully create!
- Jillian
Brock’s Top 5 Films
E.T.
Arrival
No Country for Old Men
Moonlight
Hellion
Brock Davis Mitchell
Director of Photography & Technical Lead
Brock Davis Mitchell is a film director, producer, and cinematographer based in Otôskwanihk (Calgary Alberta). Working professionally in the Alberta film industry since 2007, Brock has been a partner of Deluxe Design Group since 2012.
Brock made his directorial debut through narrative music videos, winning for ‘Best Director’ in 2014 at the Alberta Film and Television Awards. Completing his first feature film ‘A Gentleman’ in 2018.
Brock’s work has further garnered numerous accolades across the country including a 2020 Western Canada Music Awards nomination for ‘Video Director of the Year’, 2020 Toronto International Film and Video Award nomination for ‘Best Music Video’, to his more recent win for ‘Audience Choice for Best Canadian Short Film’ award at the 2022 Calgary Underground Film Festival, ‘Best Documentary Short Director’ and ‘Best Documentary Short ‘ at the Alberta Film and Television Awards with his film ‘Piita Aapasskaan’.
Brock is proud to provide the Tap Root youth with the technical expertise, support, and cinematography knowledge to help build their artistic visions.
I truly feel as though my whole career has been leading to Tap Root. To see the youth feel empowered to tell their own stories, to realize their potential, and to grow as people has shown that filmmaking can serve a much deeper purpose.
I now look forward to Tap Root every year, and can’t wait to see what the youth will become.
- Brock
Community Partners
Thank you to all our contributing partners and facilitators
Spencer Blyan
What I love about Tap Root Actors Academy is that it’s right in my home settlement. Being able to have this great opportunity to work alongside the future generations is very humbling. I hope I can inspire others to purse whatever it is they want in life, and to let the youth know that you can never doubt yourself; no matter what.
This is a great opportunity for me, but it’s also a head start for the youth to experience the world of film at a younger age. I hope to be with Tap Root as long as I can, to inspire Métis youth like myself, and show Kikino and other Indigenous communities what the power of storytelling can do
- Spencer
