The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) is calling for an earlier-than-scheduled decision from the federal government about its funding status for Canadian Heritage’s upcoming fiscal year, saying it faces “considerable risk” after not receiving any new funding commitment in the latest budget.

The call came in a press release that was issued on Wednesday (April 12) and outlined the ISO’s recent “letter of disappointment” sent to the federal government regarding its exclusion from the Liberal Party of Canada’s budget, tabled March 28.

The letter was sent April 6 and issued to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, asking for “the government to work in the spirit of equality and partnership to provide the required sustainability and investment for the organization to continue to thrive,” said the release.

The ISO had previously submitted documents to the federal government for the pre-budget consultations, seeking permanent funding for the organization and an increase in its funding to its original requested amount of $27 million per year.

Currently, the ISO’s three-year federal financing commitment of $13 million per year — for a total of $40.1 million, as allocated in the 2021 budget — expires at the end of the next fiscal year (March 31, 2024) and there’s no guarantee of additional and permanent funding.

“Given that the ISO can’t plan for the future without the commitment of federal funding, we would like to hear back from the government as soon as possible so we can continue the good work that has been started,” ISO CEO Kerry Swanson (pictured) told Playback Daily by email.

In a statement issued to Playback, Laura Scaffidi, press secretary for the office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, said Rodriguez “has been given a mandate to provide the Indigenous Screen Office with additional ongoing funding so more Indigenous stories can be told and seen.”

“The audiovisual sector is extremely important to our economy and our culture. The Minister is committed to delivering on these priorities throughout the full length of his mandate,” Scaffidi added.

“People across Canada should be able to recognize themselves in the stories that are told on their screens. This means that all creatives — regardless of language spoken, ethnicity, age, or geography — should have more opportunities to participate in and benefit from a more inclusive system. That’s what Bill C-11 will do. Tech giants will have to pay their fair share towards our culture — including towards Indigenous artists and creators.”

The ISO’s pre-budget submission included testimonials from Indigenous storytellers and data on its funding reach and partnerships made since it was established in 2017 with a mandate to create more opportunities for First Nations, Métis and Inuit storytellers within the Canadian screen sector.

The ISO’s funding programs “are already oversubscribed, particularly in the areas of development and production,” said the submission letter, signed by Swanson and former ISO executive director Jesse Wente. An annual allocation from the Heritage Ministry for $27 million on an ongoing basis is “the appropriate funding amount for the organization to achieve its mandate,” it added.

Testimonials detailing the importance and impact of the ISO in the submission came from director-producers Gail Maurice and Lisa Jackson; directors Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Tasha Hubbard, Asia Youngman and Bretten Hannam; producers Jason Brennan, Tina Keeper, Lisa Meeches, Jennifer Podemski, Paula Devonshire and Jason Ryle; and actor Tantoo Cardinal, founder, Tap Roots Academy.

Also in the submission was a letter of support for the Indigenous-led national advocacy and funding organization from Inuk filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk.

The ISO has delivered more than $24.6 million directly to over 320 First Nations, Inuit and Métis recipients across Canada, according to the release, which promoted support from imagineNATIVE.

In a release issued Wednesday, imagineNATIVE said the “ISO has made great strides in a short period of time to support Indigenous creatives working in the film and media sectors, and we genuinely believe their existence is imperative towards Indigenous narrative sovereignty and authentic representation on our screens.”

In a statement, Swanson said the ISO was created “with an explicit mandate from this government to support Indigenous narrative sovereignty.”

“As partners, we expect to be treated as equals in determining shared objectives and terms of engagement,” Swanson said. “In the true spirit of reconciliation and self-determination, we simply want this government to stop creating conditions that undermine our success and theirs. Given the challenges and instability this approach to our funding creates, we are seeking an earlier decision from the government so that we can continue focusing on our mandate.”

Photo taken by Red Works Photography