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Actors and Ancestors: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Joel D. Montgrand
A film and TV podcast that celebrates Indigenous actors, talks back to Hollywood stereotypes, and looks to the future of Indigenous Peoples on screen. Assin’skowitiniwak (Rocky Cree) actor and show host, Joel D. Montgrand, brings you Indigenous actors like you’ve never heard them before – from up-and-coming stars to trailblazing elders.
Latest Episodes
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- Jul 20, 202652 min
Not The Indians You're Used To with Meegwun Fairbrother
Meegwun Fairbrother (Ojibwe) plays William Mitchell on Netflix's remake of Little House on the Prairie (out now!). He shares about growing up on the land, learning resilience, mentoring young people, and the one time he had to make his own costume as a struggling actor starting out in the industry. Meegwun tells JD how he decides what kind of Indigenous roles he will go up for, how hard it is not being called back again for roles you loved, and celebrating each other's wins when they do happen — the right role will come to you when the time is right!TRANSCRIPT Available on the Actors and Ancestors website.CREDITSActors & Ancestors is created, produced, and hosted by Joel D. Montgrand.Editing and production support from Daniella Barreto.Thank you to the Indigenous Screen Office for generously supporting this show!Episode photo of Meegwun by Kevin McIntyreMoral support from Awas the pod-cat.Learn more at www.actorsandancestors.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Aug 28, 202547 min
Filling Big Shoes with Michelle Thrush
Michelle Thrush (Cree) tells JD about waiting for aliens to sweep her off to space and the power of Indigenous-led sets when handling stories of unthinkable trauma. She recounts her transformative time at the first school run by and for Indigenous people in Calgary, being mentored by the legendary actor, Gordon Tootoosis, and, most recently, her first ever lead role in a film! Michelle shares her tips for anyone getting started in the biz and what to be prepared for (with a bit of clowning around!).CREDITSActors & Ancestors is created, produced, and hosted by Joel D. Montgrand. Audio editing and production support from Daniella Barreto.Moral support from Awas the pod-cat.Episode photo of Michelle by Nadya Kwandibens Redworks Studio Thank you to the Indigenous Screen Office for generously supporting this show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jul 13, 202555 min
You Might Also Like: Canardian ft. Joel D. Montgrand
Here's an interview with JD from a different show you might like! "Cows and Plows and Rescue Ranger Fumbles (ft. JD Montgrand)" -- Joel (JD) Montgrand, host and creator of the "Actors and Ancestors" podcast, joins Canardian to discuss the town of La Ronge, its kaiju mosquitos, the mysterious drug cartel queen of Chicken Delight, winter survival 101, and so much more!If you loved this episode, there's a lot more Canardian where that came from. Check out the show and give them a follow! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jun 1, 202532 min
Fifty Years of Troublemaking with Gary Farmer
JD meets up with Gary Farmer (Cayuga from the Six Nations of the Grand River) for a conversation about his fifty years in performance, blazing a trail for Indigenous actors to come, knowing your language and being known for "cheeky" humour. Check out Gary's band, Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers: "Cadillacs Don't Care" (From the album "Fool For Love", 2024 Gonzo Drive Records) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Dec 24, 202458 min
Chasing a Moving Target with Rainbow Dickerson
Rainbow Dickerson is a Rappahannock-Thai actor and producer based in LA. She and Joel discuss what it’s like growing up in many places with a yearning for home, how specific on screen representation can be, and how to define success for yourself when it feels like other people at your level are more successful in the industry. Rainbow is an award-winning actor who stars in the new short film, The River. Fun fact: She and Joel are twice on-screen spouses in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Beans! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Sep 30, 202444 min
Travelling the Powwow Highway with Wes Studi
The legendary Wes Studi joins Joel for an exchange about his sweeping career from "The Last of the Mohicans" to "Reservation Dogs" and everything in between. Wes is a Tsalagi (Cherokee) screen veteran and the first Indigenous actor to receive an Academy Award for his lifetime achievements. Wes tells Joel about a chance error that led to choosing his showbiz name, his first time wearing tights, his experience as a young soldier in Viet Nam before he got involved in the American Indian Movement (AIM), and his recollection of a mountaintop fight scene with his late friend and fellow trailblazing Indigenous actor, Russell Means.Wes lets you in on his thoughts about acting as a business as well as an art and shares his advice for aspiring actors: looks will only get you so far – acting is hard work and you still have to deliver! Wes and Joel discuss National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the meaning of apologies, and what has happened with the phrase "telling our own stories" over the last 15 years. Transcript available [here]***Actors and Ancestors is created, hosted, and produced by Joel D. Montgrand. Audio editing and production support from Daniella Barreto.Thank you to our fellow podcasters at Reel Indigenous for helping us make this episode happen, Stephanie Joyce for her tape sync work in Santa Fe, and to the Indigenous Screen Office for sponsoring this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Aug 30, 202456 min
From CBC Unreserved: The Little Bird Story of the 60s Scoop
[Actors and Ancestors is sharing this episode in partnership with CBC Unreserved.] The "Sixties Scoop" was a time when Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities and sent to live with white families in 1960's Canada. It’s estimated that over 20,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children were removed during the Scoop. It was a traumatic assimilation policy resulting in broken community connections and lasting pain through many generations. The award-winning, Indigenous-produced and -directed TV series, Little Bird, chronicles this period in time that many still don't know about."Four of the Indigenous women behind the series take us behind the scenes. Producer/Creator Jennifer Podemski is Saulteaux/Ojibway and Jewish and says it is not “any one person's story” but is reflective of many Sixties Scoop stories. Directors/Writers, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (Blackfoot and Sámi) and Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk and Mohawk) were more like Aunties, taking great care on the set of the series to make sure everyone felt safe to tell this story. Darla Contois is the star of Little Bird in the role of Esther/Bezhig. The Cree-Saulteaux actor from Misipawistik Cree Nation says she brought her own family's experience with the Scoop to inform her role." - CBC UnreservedABOUT: CBC Unreserved is a fearless space for Indigenous voices. Join Rosanna Deerchild every Friday for vibrant conversations with our cousins, aunties, elders, and heroes. Rosanna guides us on the path to better understanding our shared story. Together, we learn and unlearn, laugh and become gentler in all our relations. You can find Unreserved wherever you get your podcasts, or here: https://link.chtbl.com/hNN9bA4U Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jun 21, 202447 min
Being a Good Relative with Dallas Goldtooth
Dallas Goldtooth is a Dakota-Diné actor, comedian, and writer. He is a land defender, gamer, and mediocre horseback rider who is kicking down doors in Hollywood, writing and acting in groundbreaking shows like Reservation Dogs, Echo, and Fallout. He cut his teeth in the world of comedy with the 1491s, a sketch comedy group that travelled all through Indian country giving side-splitting performances and making connections. Now, Dallas and the squad are bringing Indigenous stories to the screen and making Indigenous actors household names. He shares his biggest tips for succeeding in the industry and his take home message? Be a good relative! Listen on to hear more about how he balances acting, activism, and social media, how he tackles toxic masculinity through comedy, and what shocked him the most about living in Montreal.TRANSCRIPT HERE.If you liked this episode, be sure to check out "Pretendians" with Robert Jago and Angel Ellis. Their recent episode about pretendians in Hollywood is a must-listen!Thank you to the Indigenous Screen Office for supporting Actors and Ancestors!Thank you to Cheekbone Beauty for their support of the Season 2 launch! Visit the Actors and Ancestors Instagram page to find out how to win one of three $250 gift cards. And you can still use the code ACTORS10 for 10% off your Decolonial Clothing purchases as an Actors and Ancestors listener. CREDITS: Actors and Ancestors is created, hosted, and produced by Joel D. Montgrand with audio editing and production support from Daniella Barreto.00:01:12 - Introduction to Dallas Goldtooth, who claims him, and his family00:04:30 - The small pool of Native actors means you're often up for the same roles00:08:25 - Why Dallas and JD don't want to do "stoic Indian on a horse in the 1800s" roles00:11:30 - "Worst Indian on camera" Dallas' story of portraying Chief Little Crow in a student film00:13:59 - Fallout: is Dallas the first actual Indigenous person in the Fallout Universe?00:18:39 - What was in a Brooklyn warehouse and why the Fallout TV show costumes were so good00:21:41 - Dallas gets this question all the time: How can I get involved in the industry?00:24:27 - Healthy masculinity and how Dallas uses comedy to combat toxicity00:27:58 - How does Dallas do it all? Comedy, Organizing, Being Indigenous!00:32:34 - Social media reach and expending social capital for social justice00:34:01 - "Old Sacred Teaching"00:37:58 - Indigenous celebrity and what it means00:40:34 - Dallas' fear and hope for Indigenous stories in the industry00:41:54 - What shocked Dallas about Montreal00:42:48 - Circle of Life00:43:18 - Movie set lingo00:44:25 - How to act on set00:45:55 - Red Red Carpet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About Actors and Ancestors
A film and TV podcast that celebrates Indigenous actors, talks back to Hollywood stereotypes, and looks to the future of Indigenous Peoples on screen. Assin’skowitiniwak (Rocky Cree) actor and show host, Joel D. Montgrand, brings you Indigenous actors like you’ve never heard them before – from up-and-coming stars to trailblazing elders.
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