More of Our Canada – July 2019

the camera inward, exploring my mom’s

upbringing on the rez in my second short

film, Rae, which won Best Youth Work at

the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival and

was an official selection of the Palm

Springs ShortFest. I have multiple proj-

ects in the works as a creative behind-the-

lens. I believe that creating my own work

instilled a sense of confidence within my-

self that has helped me in my acting career.

Since then, I have worked full-time in

roles such as Sam Duchene in CTV’s

Cardinal, Lilith in the Netflix Original The

Order, and Sam Black Crow in Neil Gaiman’s

American Gods, while I continue to pursue

passion projects as a filmmaker.

I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love

as a career, and to represent my communi-

ty while doing it, but oftentimes I am the

only Native person in the room. The indus-

try still has a long way to go, but I am a part

of a young generation of Indigenous cre-

atives in film who are relentlessly pursu-

ing proper representation of our stories.

Moving forward, I will continue to bal-

ance my life in this demanding industry, by

visiting my community, and taking Mo-

hawk classes at the University of Toronto.

Maintaining that connection to my culture

is integral to my work and my well-being.

Any success I’ve had I attribute to my sup-

portive family and community. I strive to

honour my Tóta and the name she has giv-

en me, by telling stories that explore the

complicated and proud nature of what it

means to be Mohawk. n

Left: Devery as

Sam Duchene

in CTV’s Cardinal

and(bottom left)

as Sam Black

Crow in American

Gods with her

stunt double.

Above: Devery,

as director, view-

ing a monitor

set up in the

trunk of a film

vehicle.

SONIA PRIMERANO

COURTESY OF DEVERY JACOBS

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