(Toronto) The Indigenous Screen Office, a federal agency that supports the production and training of First Nations and Inuit artists, believes its future is in jeopardy after reading the latest budget.
The organization’s leaders recently wrote a “letter of disappointment” to the federal government, after their request for increased and permanent funding was excluded from the federal budget last month.
In their letter to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and her Heritage colleague Pablo Rodriguez, the Indigenous Screen Office recalls that the three-year commitment of approximately $13 million per year will end on March 31, 2024. However, without the guarantee of additional and permanent funding, the organization believes that it “runs a considerable risk”.
Kerry Swanson, President and CEO, explains that the bulk of the Bureau’s funding comes from the federal government. “Given the difficulties and instability this approach to funding creates, we are asking the government to make a faster decision so that we can continue to focus on our mandate,” Ms. Swanson said.
She recalled that the Office’s annual budget in 2021-22 was just over $14 million, with administrative costs of just $1.5 million. Established in 2017, the Indigenous Screen Office is independent of government and led by Indigenous people. According to Swanson, the organization distributed $24.6 million over two years to Indigenous creators and projects.
Laura Scaffidi, Mr. Rodriguez’s press secretary, said in a statement that Canadians should be able to identify with stories in film and television, regardless of language, ethnicity, age or background. creators.
Ms. Swanson replies in an email that Bureau leaders believed their mission was a priority for this government.
The Canadian Press tried unsuccessfully to get a reaction from the finance minister’s office.
