Kaniehtiio Horn Instagram – I just stumbled on these pictures from shooting the late Jeff Barnaby’s short film called The Colony in 2007, I was 21.
I remember the character description was “dark skinned curvy native woman” and I was like uhhhh… I’m a skinny ass light skinned native girl… but I went in with choices and he booked me after running the scene once.
In prep I asked him if he wanted me to dye my hair darker to, “you know, look more ndn.” (I was dying it red at the time). He was like “fuck no, if anything dye it even more red, you’re ndn and that’s it.”
That was the first time in my career I realized how important it was to have Indigenous people making decisions and telling our own stories. Up until then I was never really considered for any Indigenous roles by non-indigenous film makers, even though I am a born and raised Kanienkehaka of Kahnawake.
I’m not sure if he knew how much it meant that when he looked at me, or spoke with me, he saw past my blue eyes and freckled light skin and saw the little snot nosed rez kid I truly was.
We didn’t always see eye to eye and that is okay, I’m so grateful to have worked with him so early on in both of our careers.
I’m not sure where you can find the short now but I’d love to see it! It’s been a while!
🖤
#montrealfilm #shortfilm #jeffbarnaby #thecolony #indigenousfilm | Posted on 26/Jan/2024 20:57:33
