A nishinaabe writer, broadcaster, speaker and arts leader Jesse Wente is an outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights and First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists. But the influence of the executive director of the Indigenous Screen Office has never been greater since stepping into a new role as the chair of the Canada Council of the Arts this summer for a five-year term. He’s leaning into his role fostering and promoting Indigenous storytellers and advocating for Indigenous narrative sovereignty in a year which saw record achievements by the community writ large. Watch the video below as he talks about a difficult year and how he hopes to sustain the momentum.

As 2020 draws to a close Playback is announcing its Best of the Year, an annual recognition of the people, companies and projects that set themselves apart from the pack. Due to the unprecedented challenges faced across the sector, this year’s selections were especially tough, as the examples of resilience, ingenuity, quick thinking and collaboration on display were too numerous to mention. Check back throughout the week as Playback names its Best of the Year for 2020.