A 21-year-old from Wekweètì wants to breathe new life into modern cinema with traditional stories.
“I know we’re in a time of age where diversity is on the rise, but Indigenous voices in film are still underrepresented,” says Melvin Tom, a recent graduate of Vancouver Film School.
Tom’s passion for acting was sparked by the Harry Potter films. However, pursing a career in acting didn’t seem like an option for him.
“I thought that it’s impossible for me [to become an actor] because I live in a remote community and there’s not much of a film industry in the North,” he says.
Yet, the dream of acting never left him. Tom says when he listens to Elders share their experiences and Indigenous tales, he can always visualize how these stories could come to life on the big screen.
One such story is the legend of Yamǫǫ̀zha, known as the “great traveller”. Yamǫǫ̀zha dedicated his life to building peace between humans and animals, establishing the Dene Laws, and protecting the land and people of Denendeh.
Tom says that this type of story has so much cinematic potential, and he hopes to bring it to a wider audience.
To elevate Indigenous storytelling, Tom wants to create a project centered on the history of his community, including stores about their chiefs, land claims and self-government agreements.
“I wish the film industry would tell Indigenous stories by getting us involved,” says Tom.
“The people who were part of the land claim negotiations are still alive, and they know what happened,” Tom says. “It’s crucial to have them tell the stories and authentically translate that onto the big screen.”
Looking ahead, Tom plans to send out audition tapes while saving enough money to eventually move back to Vancouver and further pursue his acting career.
