Actors and Ancestors

Joel D. Montgrand
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  • Film Interviews
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A film and TV podcast that celebrates Indigenous actors, talks back to Hollywood stereotypes, and looks to the future of Indigenous Peoples on screen. Assin’skowitiniwak (Rocky Cree) actor and show host, Joel D. Montgrand, brings you Indigenous actors like you’ve never heard them before – from up-and-coming stars to trailblazing elders. Roll out the red red carpet for this award-winning show! www.actorsandancestors.com This show is a Silver Award Winner for Best in TV & Film in the 2024 Signal Awards and a Silver Award Winner for Best Indie Podcast in the 2024 W3 Awards! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 20 Jul

    Not The Indians You're Used To with Meegwun Fairbrother

    Meegwun Fairbrother (Ojibwe) plays William Mitchell on Netflix's remake of Little House on the Prairie (out now!). He shares about growing up on the land, learning resilience, mentoring young people, and the one time he had to make his own costume as a struggling actor starting out in the industry. Meegwun tells JD how he decides what kind of Indigenous roles he will go up for, how hard it is not being called back again for roles you loved, and celebrating each other's wins when they do happen — the right role will come to you when the time is right! TRANSCRIPT Available on the Actors and Ancestors website. CREDITS Actors & Ancestors is created, produced, and hosted by Joel D. Montgrand. Editing and production support from Daniella Barreto. Thank you to the Indigenous Screen Office for generously supporting this show! Episode photo of Meegwun by Kevin McIntyre Moral support from Awas the pod-cat. Learn more at www.actorsandancestors.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Not The Indians You're Used To with Meegwun Fairbrother

  2. 28/08/2025

    Filling Big Shoes with Michelle Thrush

    Michelle Thrush (Cree) tells JD about waiting for aliens to sweep her off to space and the power of Indigenous-led sets when handling stories of unthinkable trauma. She recounts her transformative time at the first school run by and for Indigenous people in Calgary, being mentored by the legendary actor, Gordon Tootoosis, and, most recently, her first ever lead role in a film! Michelle shares her tips for anyone getting started in the biz and what to be prepared for (with a bit of clowning around!). CREDITS Actors & Ancestors is created, produced, and hosted by Joel D. Montgrand. Audio editing and production support from Daniella Barreto. Moral support from Awas the pod-cat. Episode photo of Michelle by Nadya Kwandibens Redworks Studio  Thank you to the Indigenous Screen Office for generously supporting this show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Filling Big Shoes with Michelle Thrush

  3. 13/07/2025 ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: Canardian ft. Joel D. Montgrand

    Here's an interview with JD from a different show you might like! "Cows and Plows and Rescue Ranger Fumbles (ft. JD Montgrand)" -- Joel (JD) Montgrand, host and creator of the "Actors and Ancestors" podcast, joins Canardian to discuss the town of La Ronge, its kaiju mosquitos, the mysterious drug cartel queen of Chicken Delight, winter survival 101, and so much more! If you loved this episode, there's a lot more Canardian where that came from. Check out the show and give them a follow! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    You Might Also Like: Canardian ft. Joel D. Montgrand

  4. 01/06/2025

    Fifty Years of Troublemaking with Gary Farmer

    JD meets up with Gary Farmer (Cayuga from the Six Nations of the Grand River) for a conversation about his fifty years in performance, blazing a trail for Indigenous actors to come, knowing your language and being known for "cheeky" humour. Check out Gary's band, Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers: "Cadillacs Don't Care" (From the album "Fool For Love", 2024 Gonzo Drive Records) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Fifty Years of Troublemaking with Gary Farmer

  5. 24/12/2024

    Chasing a Moving Target with Rainbow Dickerson

    Rainbow Dickerson is a Rappahannock-Thai actor and producer based in LA. She and Joel discuss what it’s like growing up in many places with a yearning for home, how specific on screen representation can be, and how to define success for yourself when it feels like other people at your level are more successful in the industry. Rainbow is an award-winning actor who stars in the new short film, The River. Fun fact: She and Joel are twice on-screen spouses in Avatar: The Last Airbender and Beans! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Chasing a Moving Target with Rainbow Dickerson

  6. 30/09/2024

    Travelling the Powwow Highway with Wes Studi

    The legendary Wes Studi joins Joel for an exchange about his sweeping career from "The Last of the Mohicans" to "Reservation Dogs" and everything in between. Wes is a Tsalagi (Cherokee) screen veteran and the first Indigenous actor to receive an Academy Award for his lifetime achievements. Wes tells Joel about a chance error that led to choosing his showbiz name, his first time wearing tights, his experience as a young soldier in Viet Nam before he got involved in the American Indian Movement (AIM), and his recollection of a mountaintop fight scene with his late friend and fellow trailblazing Indigenous actor, Russell Means. Wes lets you in on his thoughts about acting as a business as well as an art and shares his advice for aspiring actors: looks will only get you so far – acting is hard work and you still have to deliver! Wes and Joel discuss National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the meaning of apologies, and what has happened with the phrase "telling our own stories" over the last 15 years.  Transcript available [here] *** Actors and Ancestors is created, hosted, and produced by Joel D. Montgrand. Audio editing and production support from Daniella Barreto. Thank you to our fellow podcasters at Reel Indigenous for helping us make this episode happen, Stephanie Joyce for her tape sync work in Santa Fe, and to the Indigenous Screen Office for sponsoring this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Travelling the Powwow Highway with Wes Studi

  7. 30/08/2024

    From CBC Unreserved: The Little Bird Story of the 60s Scoop

    [Actors and Ancestors is sharing this episode in partnership with CBC Unreserved.] The "Sixties Scoop" was a time when Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities and sent to live with white families in 1960's Canada. It’s estimated that over 20,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children were removed during the Scoop. It was a traumatic assimilation policy resulting in broken community connections and lasting pain through many generations. The award-winning, Indigenous-produced and -directed TV series, Little Bird, chronicles this period in time that many still don't know about. "Four of the Indigenous women behind the series take us behind the scenes. Producer/Creator Jennifer Podemski is Saulteaux/Ojibway and Jewish and says it is not “any one person's story” but is reflective of many Sixties Scoop stories. Directors/Writers, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (Blackfoot and Sámi) and Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk and Mohawk) were more like Aunties, taking great care on the set of the series to make sure everyone felt safe to tell this story. Darla Contois is the star of Little Bird in the role of Esther/Bezhig. The Cree-Saulteaux actor from Misipawistik Cree Nation says she brought her own family's experience with the Scoop to inform her role." - CBC Unreserved ABOUT: CBC Unreserved is a fearless space for Indigenous voices. Join Rosanna Deerchild every Friday for vibrant conversations with our cousins, aunties, elders, and heroes. Rosanna guides us on the path to better understanding our shared story. Together, we learn and unlearn, laugh and become gentler in all our relations. You can find Unreserved wherever you get your podcasts, or here: https://link.chtbl.com/hNN9bA4U Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    From CBC Unreserved: The Little Bird Story of the 60s Scoop

  8. Season 2 Trailer

    TRAILER: Season 2 - Actors & Ancestors

    Twice the medicine, twice the bannock, no spirit animals! Welcome to Season 2 of Actors & Ancestors, an Indigenous Film & TV podcast. --- Actors & Ancestors is created, produced and hosted by Joel D. Montgrand. Audio editing and production support from Daniella Barreto. Thank you to the Indigenous Screen Office for their support! --- All music provided by https://slip.stream Track: "Spaghetti Standoff", Flint Eastgood Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/8fnuPn Track: "Fiery Thunder" Download / Stream: https://slip.stream/tracks/337b9163-74f2-435a-a7a5-e88eb1b418a0?utm_source=attribution Track: "Ricochet Western 01" Download / Stream: https://slip.stream/tracks/6e154b9a-34d6-4fb0-8417-f052fbb6b031?utm_source=attribution Track: "Get Some Edge" Music provided by https://slip.stream Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/HEZLrT Track: "Hawk Call Squawk 03" Download / Stream: https://slip.stream/tracks/c5a537cb-944f-4492-a8de-194bec2fa24b?utm_source=attribution Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

A film and TV podcast that celebrates Indigenous actors, talks back to Hollywood stereotypes, and looks to the future of Indigenous Peoples on screen. Assin’skowitiniwak (Rocky Cree) actor and show host, Joel D. Montgrand, brings you Indigenous actors like you’ve never heard them before – from up-and-coming stars to trailblazing elders. Roll out the red red carpet for this award-winning show! www.actorsandancestors.com This show is a Silver Award Winner for Best in TV & Film in the 2024 Signal Awards and a Silver Award Winner for Best Indie Podcast in the 2024 W3 Awards! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Joel D. Montgrand
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Actors and Ancestors
  • Show Website
    Actors and Ancestors

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