Indigenous Digital Accelerator

Doreen Manuel (Secwepemc/Ktunaxa) is the director of the Bosa Centre for Film and Animation at Capilano University and Inclusive Community Projects. She is the first Indigenous woman to direct a major film centre in Canada and to hold a position on the board of directors of Knowledge Network.

She holds many advisory positions with industry organizations and major industry funders. She was the 2019 Woman of the Year for Women in Film and TV Vancouver and is the recipient of the Leadership in Education award and many other film industry and education leadership awards both provincially and nationally.

Doreen has worked on television and film productions in a wide variety of roles, and as a news reporter and producer of corporate video. She comes from a long line of oral historians and factual story gatherers and is the daughter of renowned international leader, the late George Manuel and spiritual leader Marceline Manuel.

Jackson Crick has returned to Capilano University in the capacity of Manager, Indigenous Digital Accelerator (IDA).

Jackson is instrumental in building out capacity within the IDA such as enhancing the business client intake process, governance structures, and enhancing our relationships with the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Sechelt (Shíshálh), Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and more broadly Indigenous communities in Western Canada.

Jackson is Xeni Gwet'in from the Tsilhqot'in Nation. Jackson previously worked at Capilano University from 2002–2014, the early days of the Indigenous Digital Filmmaking program, where he worked in the capacities of Coordinator, Instructor and Lab Supervisor.

As the Housing Project Manager for the Tsilhqot'in National Government, in Williams Lake, Jackson helped facilitate a first-of-its-kind housing authority for an Indigenous Nation in Canada.

Jackson has also worked as the Field Operations Supervisor for Statistics Canada in the Northern BC Prince George Office where he conducted the 2011 and the 2016 Census for 40+ Northern BC First Nation communities over an area spanning from Canim Lake to Hazelton to Fort Nelson.

More recently, Jackson was employed as the Operations Manager for the IM4 (Indigenous Matriarchs 4) Virtual Reality Program at Emily Carr, where he engaged with Indigenous communities and organizations to train and utilize VR/AR for economic, educational, cultural, and health applications.

Jackson's diverse set of administrative skills, legal background, community-based work and knowledge of digital production will be valuable for driving forth growth and capacity within the IDA.

Shaelyn Johnston is an award-winning Ojibwe and Irish-Canadian writer from Vancouver, B.C.

She is a recipient of the Governor General’s History Award and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia.

Shaelyn was selected for both editions of Telus STORYHIVE’s Indigenous Storytellers Edition and has participated in the Netflix/BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative, and Whistler Film Festival’s Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship and Screenwriters Lab.

Her animated short film, The Healing Dance, has screened at numerous festivals across Canada and the United States, won Best Short Film at the Weengushk International Film Festival, and recently surpassed over 13,000 views on YouTube.

She coordinates professional development programs for Indigenous filmmakers through Capilano University’s Indigenous Digital Accelerator, and she also sits on the board of the Gender Equity in Media Society (previously WIFT Vancouver), where she manages and co-facilitates the Tricksters & Writers Screenwriting Program

Dorothy Cucw-la7 Christian, PhD is of the Secwepemc and Syilx Nations from the interior plateau regions of B.C. Her home community of Splatsin, is one of 17 communities that comprise the Secwepemc Nation.

Christian is the eldest of 10, has one daughter and over 70 nieces, nephews, great nieces, and nephews and at least two great, great nieces. She is called to her home community and to her Nation to be a part of Nation or community engagements.

Dorothy is currently in the Department of Graduate Studies at SFU as the Associate Director of Indigenous Policy & Pedagogy at Simon Fraser University. Her academic research consistently centralized Indigenous knowledge long before those terms became the latest buzzwords in the academy, including Indigenous and Settler relations.

One of the responsibilities she upholds is sitting on the SFU Advisory for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion as Special Advisor Auntie/Elder to the Vice-President, People, Equity, and Inclusion (VPPEI) and President’s offices.

Dorothy continues to be involved in the Indigenous cultural industries. She is a Board member of the National Indigenous Screen Office organization and on the Advisory for the Indigenous Digital Accelerator Program at Capilano University. She also works with the Women in the Director’s Chair organization on their equity, diversity and inclusion training.

Cynthia is a member of the Tzeachten Band and Stó:lō Nation in Chilliwack, B.C. She is an Ecosystem Catalyst in Indigenous Populations and the founder of Sp'oq'es Entrepreneurs.

Through her business and work as a facilitator, mentor, and business coach, she empowers Indigenous entrepreneurs to realize their potential to create sustainable economic and social value in the world.

An entrepreneur since 1987, Cynthia holds an MBA in Indigenous Business Leadership from Simon Fraser University and takes great pride in providing service leadership and inspiring new entrepreneurs to move forward and out of their comfort zones.

Debra previously held the position of Senior Manager of the Indigenous Business Programs at SFU. She has vast experience in business and has owned several retail businesses as well as a consulting practice.

Her background in leadership stems from her extensive work with First Nation governments and organizations such as the World Council of Indigenous Peoples. She is fiercely committed to maximizing opportunity, building capacity and economic self-sufficiency for First Nation communities.

Debra is a graduate of the EMBA IBL program. She also holds a certificate in Applied Project Management. Debra is from the Cree Nation in Alberta.

A business accelerator is a program that helps developing companies build strong sustainable businesses by providing mentorship, funding and other support.

Accelerators are for companies that are already established, but need mentorship and support to build momentum and get to the next level.

The Indigenous Digital Accelerator was designed for Indigenous companies in the high tech, digital-creative and cultural sectors including film, television, games and digital media; however, it's also appropriate for more traditional companies that want to add a digital component such as a website or e-commerce platform to their business model.

The Indigenous Digital Accelerator will connect Indigenous entrepreneurs to CapU students who are interested in gaining work experience during practicums, internships, co-op work terms and summer employment. Students will be available to help entrepreneurs with research and other tasks.

Capilano University is committed to Truth and Reconciliation, and helping Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities grow and thrive.