Avonlea Collins says she didn害羞草研究所檛 know what kind of show it was that she was applying to when she saw the advertisement last spring, but decided to give it a go anyways.
害羞草研究所淲e didn害羞草研究所檛 hear any specifics about the show, you just applied if you considered yourself to be an adventurous, outspoken Canadian, which I think I am, so I signed up,害羞草研究所� said Collins from her home in Chilliwack.
The show she was applying for, Collins would learn, was for the , and it was going to be a reality, documentary-style show, although the final details weren害羞草研究所檛 delivered until after cast members had agreed to be a part of the project.
害羞草研究所漀one of us knew what the show was going on until the end, as (the show害羞草研究所檚 producers) weren害羞草研究所檛 informative about the specifics (at the start),害羞草研究所� explained Collins.
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Once selected for the show害羞草研究所�First Contact害羞草研究所擟ollins says cast members were filled in on its purpose and the stories producers were hoping they害羞草研究所檇 have the opportunity to tell through 28 days of shooting in various locations across the country.
害羞草研究所淎t first, I was a little worried at the beginning because you害羞草研究所檙e (always) a little (scared) about how you害羞草研究所檙e going to be portrayed,害羞草研究所� continued Collins.
害羞草研究所淏ut I took that risk, jumped in two feet first, and I害羞草研究所檓 really happy I did,害羞草研究所� said Collins emphatically. 害羞草研究所淚 feel like I have received a really positive outcome from the whole experience.害羞草研究所�
However, as they headed into the taping of the show, Collins says she struggled accepting the notion that she possessed stereotypes about Canada害羞草研究所檚 indigenous population.
Avonlea Collins (centre) tries seal for the first time. Collins, along with five others, spent 28 days travelling across Canada with a camera crew meeting Indigenous people from a variety of different cultures. APTN's "First Contact" airs Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. (Submitted)
害羞草研究所淚 grew up in Pemberton, and all my high school life I was in school with indigenous kids and white farm kids,害羞草研究所� said Collins. 害羞草研究所淭here wasn害羞草研究所檛 a lot of diversity, but it didn害羞草研究所檛 matter. We all grew up together (and) had slumber parties. I didn害羞草研究所檛 think I had stereotypes, but through this I learned that I do.
害羞草研究所淭he biggest (stereotype I had) was believing indigenous people are receiving things from the government that I wasn害羞草研究所檛, and it felt unfair. (But) through my journey I learned that wasn害羞草研究所檛 the case what so ever: the money they receive comes from their bands from a trust that害羞草研究所檚 (not) created (from our tax dollars).
害羞草研究所淏ut now I have a (more complete) understanding of the situation and a drive to learn more,害羞草研究所� added Collins.
A exploration into indigenous culture in Canada, is a three-part series narrated by George Stroumboulopoulos, a well-known Canadian TV personality and social justice activist.
Following the personal journeys of Collins and five other Canadians as they tour indigenous communities from coast to coast, First Contact illustrates the dichotomous relationship still surrounding indigenous communities in an attempt to challenge the perceptions and prejudices about a culture few get to fully experience.
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However, for Collins, shortly after the cameras started following her around the communities they were visiting, she experienced an epiphany: 害羞草研究所淲e became able to ask nearly any question we wanted the answer to 害羞草研究所� so it made it so I was able to learn more freely, and (the stereotypes fell away) pretty quick when those questions started getting answers.害羞草研究所�
Travelling throughout B.C., the show also went into the heart of indigenous communities in Winnipeg, Nunavut, Alberta, and Ontario.
害羞草研究所淚 couldn害羞草研究所檛 thank the communities more for (their openness and acceptance of us),害羞草研究所� said Collins. 害羞草研究所淭hey truly opened up about their hardest times, which is one of the hardest things to do.害羞草研究所�
Taping for First Contact took place over the course of 28 days earlier this spring, and during that month, Collins was not only away from both her husband and two small sons, but her contact with them was limited due to the regions they were visiting, and the director害羞草研究所檚 desire to have them live their experiences on camera, not on the phone talking to their families back home.
However, Collins says it was worth sacrificing that time with her family.
害羞草研究所淚t was bigger than me and them,害羞草研究所� said Collins of her decision to join the show害羞草研究所檚 cast. 害羞草研究所淣ow they害羞草研究所檒l be able to look back and say, 害羞草研究所楬ey! That害羞草研究所檚 my mom and she did that for us!害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
More-so, Collins says it was also an incredible personal journey and she害羞草研究所檚 glad for the experience. 害羞草研究所淲e went to a community in Nunavut that I was in awe of,害羞草研究所� said the stay-at-home-mom of two.
害羞草研究所淭he beauty of it and their community, and the way they interacted with each other: it害羞草研究所檚 not about trading for money or anything, it was about uplifting each other.
害羞草研究所淭hey only looked at their neighbour害羞草研究所檚 plate to make sure they had enough, not to see what they can take. They害羞草研究所檙e all incredible human beings, and I hope others can see their culture for what it truly is, not what they may think it is.
害羞草研究所滻 really just hope other people can see (the show) and see something of themselves in me and apply my learning and experience back to themselves and ask, 害羞草研究所榃ould I have gained the same thing?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
First Contact is a three-night television event, starting Sept. 11 at 7 p.m., comprising three episodes and a two-part reunion special featuring three of the show害羞草研究所檚 indigenous hosts along with the cast members who will reflect on their experiences before a live studio audience.
Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com
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