The Meaningful Experiences of Young Indigenous Filmmakers While Learning Filmmaking Techniques and Creating and Sharing Films

Abstract

Although there has been some research involving Indigenous youth and digital media, there is a gap in the literature involving filmmaking as pedagogy with Indigenous youth. This qualitative research study employed a broad interpretive approach to investigate the meaningful experiences of young Indigenous filmmakers while learning filmmaking techniques and creating a sharing film. Data were generated through semistructured interviews with 6 participants from a multiage class of Grade 6–9 students in their school in a small community in the Northwest Territories of Canada, a reflective journal kept by the researcher, researcher observations of the participants, and informal conversations. This study contributes to practical pedagogical knowledge about filmmaking, and depicts the successful and meaningful experiences of the Indigenous students who participated.