Building bridges through story: Ajuawak Kapashesit on playing with genre, the power of story, and making action figure movies as a kid

Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine

In this episode, we sit down with Minneapolis-based actor, writer, and director Ajuawak Kapashesit. Ajuawak, who is Ojibwe, Cree, and Jewish, grew up in Ontario and on the White Earth Reservation. His acting credits include Indian Horse (2017), Once Upon a River (2019), Indian Road Trip (2020), Bad Blood (CityTV/Netflix), and Outlander (Starz/Sony). Ajuawak’s short story, “A Fresh Start,” was published in the anthology Before the Usual Time by Latitude 46. He was a story editor and contributing writer for the second and third seasons of the sketch comedy show, Tallboyz (CBC).

He delves into his writing process, how he plays with different genres and eras, getting into character, and his rugby career. Ajuawak talks about the differences between writing a short story, feature film, and television pilot, and how collaboration with other actors on set can bring out a particular creativity.

Ajuawak, who was first inspired by his grandmother’s artistic process as a child, shares how expanding what narratives are presented to audiences can be a radical form of inclusion for Indigenous viewers. For Ajuawak, connecting through story can build bridges and usher in necessary change.

Tune in for an engaging conversation with one of today’s most vibrant, Indigenous artists!