Darlene Naponse

Directing

Born August 15, 1990

Darlene is an Anishinaabe Kwe from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek - Northern Ontario. She was born and raised in her community and now works out of her studio - Pine Needle Productions, in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. She is a writer, film director, and video artist. Her film work has been viewed internationally including the Sundance Film Festival. She worked with community leaders and elders to write and ratify the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek Gchi-Naaknigewin (Constitution). She continues governance and First Nations land/human rights work in her community. Darlene has built a wide range of work. She is passionate and pure as an independent artist. She retains creative control of all her films and continues to work with dedication to the protection of story, appropriation and respect to imagery, history, and tradition of First Nations people. Her work is deeply connected to her community, First Nations realities of the 21st century and Mother Earth. Darlene is honored to listen to stories of sadness, rejoice, hope, rejection, reflection, optimism and an understanding of who we are as Native people living on Mother Earth. As a storyteller, Darlene is in search of imaginative images giving truth through word, film, art and song.