Lesson 4: So You Wanna Be an Actor (Anna Lambe)
CREATE TO LEARN
5. The writer of this film is non-Indigenous. How did the filmmakers give back to the com-
munity and why is this so important? (See: Background)
Trickster Trailer (Anna Lambe plays Sarah)
1. What is your overall reaction to the clip?
2. Who do you think the target audience is for this tv series?
3. How are Indigenous people portrayed? Is it stereotypical? Complex? Both?
4. What cultural and spiritual elements are incorporated?
5. What differences do you notice between this authentic Indigenous story and all the
others we viewed in class? (Trickster was originally a novel written by Indigenous author
Eden Robinson).
Read the background information below:
Background: Trickster premiered on Canada's CBC back in October 2020 and scored an early
Season 2 renewal before premiering on The CW on January 12, 2021, but TVLine reported
two weeks later that CBC cancelled the series after controversy surrounding co-creator and
director Michelle Latimer, who falsely claimed to be Indigenous for 20 years. A representative
from CBC addressed the decision to cancel in a statement, saying: "We have had many con-
versations over the last few weeks with a view to continuing production on a second season
of Trickster. Those conversations included producers, writers, actors, and the author of the
books on which Trickster is based. Fully respecting everyone's perspective, season two will
not move forward as planned unfortunately.
6. Why do you think it was so detrimental to the show that Michelle Latimer pretended to
be Indigenous? Do you agree with CBC's decision to cancel the show? What course of
action do you think would have been the most appropriate?
ASSESS: GROUP DISCUSSIONS SELF-ASSESSMENT
While groups are discussing, the teacher should engage in formative assessment, walking
around the room and checking for understanding while answering any questions students
might have.
Once groups are finished discussing, have each student complete a self-assessment using
the "Self-Assessment Rubric". Inform students that they will grade themselves and write an
explanation as to why they gave themselves the marks they did. They will then write a few
sentences about how they can improve their participation next time.
TAKE STUDENT LEARNING FURTHER
Activity: Appropriation of Indigenous Identity
Have students explore the phenomenon of non-Indigenous people pretending to be Indig-
enous and capitalizing off Indigenous stories and culture. Have students read the following
opinion pieces, annotating the main points presented in each. Then have students write their
own editorials highlighting their own perspectives.
Nagle, Rebecca. "How 'pretendians' undermine the rights of Indige-
nous people". High Country News. 2 April 2019. https://www.hcn.org/articles/
tribal-affairs-how-pretendians-undermine-the-rights-of-indigenous-people
Kay, Jonathan. "The cancellation of Michelle Latimer has become (another) dis-
grace to the CBC". National Post. 13 May 2021. https://nationalpost.com/opinion/
jonathan-kay-the-cancelation-of-michelle-latimer-has-become-another-disgrace-to-the-cbc
Talaga, Tanya. "Joseph Boyden's identity crisis opens up questions on who is part of a
community". The Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/01/14/joseph-boydens-iden-
tity-crisis-opens-up-questions-on-who-is-part-of-a-community.html
Use the "Editorial Rubric" to assess.
