PREMIERE OF VIDEO PORTRAITS FROM PIKANGIKUM FIRST NATION
SPECIAL EVENTS
Fundraising
Experiencing Pikangikum through Art and Storytelling
Premiere of Video Portraits from Pikangikum
December 3, 2024 - 7pm
Since 2018, Jamii has been honoured to foster a beautiful connection with Pikangikum First Nation in Northern Ontario. A three-flight journey takes us to this remote community, and every visit deepens the bond we share.
Over the past three trips, we’ve created video portraits celebrating local leaders, artists, and Elders from Pikangikum. On December 3rd, we were thrilled to premiere these videos at a packed house at The Jamii Hub!
In between each short video screening, we enjoyed engaging conversations led by videographers Gillian Mapp, Eray Guler, and Isorine Marc, offering insights into the stories and creative processes behind each film. A special thanks to Asmita Pal, a resident of The Esplanade, whose connection between our community and Pikangikum made this journey possible. Another special thanks to the Jamii team who were in Toronto and ensured this project ran smoothly: Iris Unlu for video support and May Chook for event management!
To honour the moment, we shared delicious Indigenous food from Tea and Bannock in Toronto.
This ongoing artistic exchange is made possible through the support of the Ontario Arts Council @ontarioartscouncil and the Canada Council for the Arts @canada.council. We look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership in 2025 and beyond. Our screening raised $1,200, which will directly support flights for our next visit.
Photos by: Eray Guler, Isorine Marc
Eray Guler
Eray Güler is a visual storyteller whose journey began in Turkiye, where two of his photography works were published by BBC Turkiye. After moving to Canada in 2014, he expanded his expertise through digital marketing courses at George Brown College and the University of Toronto.
Eray founded Recro Digital Marketing, which continues to thrive in Canada’s competitive marketing field. His YouTube channel, the largest Turkish-Canadian channel, connects Turkiye and Canada, offering guidance to immigrants and promoting cross-cultural understanding. With over 120,000 subscribers and 17 million views, Eray is dedicated to producing content that resonates, inspires, and fosters meaningful connections.
Gillian Mapp
From a young age, Gillian Mapp began capturing images long before ever picking up a camera. Using her eyes, she made memories permanent in her mind's eye. Gillian understood the importance of documenting her story, knowing no one else would do it for her. Her mother’s dedication to recording every moment of their childhood instilled a deep appreciation for preserving history. Gillian’s early experiences with film rolls and the anticipation of their development inspired her to use photography to change how people see and remember the world. Her work highlights the beauty in everyday moments and brings untold stories to the forefront.
Isorine Marc
Isorine obtained her Masters Degree in Performing Arts Management in France and has acquired international work experience in arts organizations such as The Paris Conservatoire (France), L’École des Sables (Toubab Dialaw, Senegal), Le Centre National Chorégraphique Mathilde Monnier (France), Ausdance Queensland (Brisbane, Australia), and fFIDA-TIDF 06 (Toronto).
Isorine was CORPUS' Artistic Producer from 2006 to 2018 and founded Jamii in 2011. The Esplanade neighbourhood is Isorine's home since 2006 and she is a passionate advocate for her community.
Photo by: Eray Guler