SHOW BACKGROUNDER
Dene A Journey the television show was created by Amos Scott. He is also the Executive Producer, Director, Writer, and takes on camera work as well as editing. In the television industry, someone who holds all these different roles is known as the ‘Showrunner’.
The main inspiration for Dene A Journey is rooted in Amos’ desire to know more of his own Tlicho background, and the shared desire amongst many of his Dene peers to want to know more of their cultures. This is how Dene A Journey the land based cultural adventure show was born.
The goal of the show is to reveal Dene culture and to provide an opportunity to create a safe dialogue for those who feel disconnected from their indigenous heritage.
Dene A Journey hit the APTN airwaves in January 2013.
SYNOPSIS
Dene A Journey is a documentary series that tells the story of 6 people on individual journeys discovering their culture and re-defining their self. On this trek through life we find humour, frustration and joy, and the challenge to understand one’s identity. Each character starts to embody their own reality. They are wonderful modern indigenous humans, and there is no one answer. From an urban dweller to the bush and then back to the city, Dene A Journey is a realization of one self.
COMPANY INFORMATION
Dene A Journey Productions Ltd owns and produces Dene A Journey Season 2.
It is co-owned by Adze Studios Inc, and NCSNWT’s company, NCS Productions Ltd.
Funding for season 2 comes from the Canada Media Fund’s Aboriginal Program, its Northern Production Incentive, and the Aboriginal Program. APTN contributes to the show through its broadcast license and by supporting the show’s CMF application. Canada’s federal tax credit makes up the additional financing.
Now to make this all happen, Amos works with a small, diverse, talented team. Check out the crew bio’s below to find out more.
CREATORS
Amos Scott
Director, Producer, Writer, Camera Operator
Born in Yellowknife, Amos grew up around cameras, learning from his dad who worked as a cameraman at that time. After going to Journalism School, Amos found further experience in media as a VJ at APTN National News and radio broadcaster at both CBC North and CKLB in Yellowknife.
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Riel Stevenson-Burke
Edtior, Motion Designer, Camera Operator
A traditional Artist gone Digital , Riel spent a big part of his high school years drawing, painting, and making skateboard videos with his friends. These combined passions eventually led him to the Vancouver Film School where he graduated with a diploma in Digital Design in 2010.
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Lesley Johnson
Associate Producer, Camera Operator
Lesley spent the last ten years in Yellowknife and is now back in Toronto working on her Masters in Film Production at York University. Her previous educational background includes environmental, wildlife and political studies. She became a filmmaker during her time in the North, training in Yellowknife...
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Molly Milligan
Associate Producer, Television and Digital Media, Camera Operator
Originally from Yellowknife, Molly opted to forego college after graduating from high school and instead, booked it to the mountains (Whistler, BC to be exact) where she spent 10 plus years living the dream as a competitive and professional snowboarder.
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Jess Strothard
Editor
Originally from Kitchener, Ontario and now residing in Yellowknife, Jess has been editing short films, documentaries, wedding films and creating same-day edits since 2002. In 2009 Jess was accepted into the mentorship program through the Documentary Organization of Canada, BC Chapter (DOCBC)...
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CREW
Casey Koyczan
Digital Media Editor, Colour Correction
Casey was born and raised in Yellowknife. He holds a Multimedia Production Diploma from Lethbridge College as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Thompson River University in Kamloops, where he was also involved in a four-year work-study program for the Faculty of Fine Arts. Here in Yellowknife, Casey has...
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Dave Kellett
Camera Operator
Originally from Ontario, Dave graduated from Ryerson with a BA in Radio and Television and in 1977 began working for CBC Radio in Inuvik. From there, he went on to work for CBC Radio News in Toronto, CBC North Radio and Television, CBC’s The National, and as a video journalist for CBC North and APTN. Dave was...
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Pablo Saravanja
Camera Operator
A Yellowknife original, Pablo began his lucrative photography career when he was just 14 years old, taking polaroid pictures of tourists and selling them as souvenirs. He later attended the Western Academy of Photography in Victoria for Photojournalism as well as the Gulf Island Film and Television School for their intensive...
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Jay Bulckaert
Camera Operator
Jay is a self-taught videographer, having dropped out of film school, he chose instead to use his tuition to film music videos, and owes his career to learning how to become a filmmaker in the North. Jay has worked on the television series’ ‘Ice Pilots’ and ‘Fur Harvesters’. He won the Best Editing and Best Sound...
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CREATIVE CONTRIBUTORS
Denezeh Nakehk’o
Narrator
Travis Mercredi
Post Production Audio
Jesse James
Composer
Bryce Styan
Composer
Steve Whittaker
Composer
Casey Koyczan
Composer
Mike Plouffe
Digital Media Asset Coordinator