Indigenous creators among 2025 Canadian Screen Award nominees

Several Indigenous nominees are among those announced Wednesday for the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards in film, television, and digital media.

Show creator Amber-Sekowan Daniels, who is Anisininew, and director Zoe Hopkins, who is Heiltsuk and Kanien'kehá:ka, received four nominations for Crave Original comedy series Don't Even, for Best Comedy Series, Best Direction, Best Photography and Best Picture Editing.

Hopkins said the series was a great collaboration.

"We always have goals that things are going to get some traction and be watched and well loved," said Hopkins.

"The cast is phenomenal and we had a great time, so, you know, that's kind of a win already by itself, but then to be acknowledged like this. I'm just thrilled for everyone." 

Hopkins said it was the first time she's worked with Daniels, who is from Winnipeg.

"She's hilarious and there's some very specific Winnipeg humour in it." 

Kaniehtiio Horn, who is Kanien'kehá:ka, is nominated for Original Screenplay, Performance in a Leading Role, Comedy and the John Dunning Best First Feature Film Award for Seeds, which she also directed.

"I basically just wanted to make a movie to prove to myself that I could make a movie, and, you know, I just wanted to tell a story," she said.

She said to be acknowledged by the industry feels "like an extra cherry on top."

Horn said, compared to previous decades, there's "more new Indigenous faces in the audience and on the nominees list and everything is just really encouraging," she said. 

"I'm just really proud to be a part of all of that."

Seeds actor Graham Greene (Oneida) is nominated for Performance in a Supporting Role, Comedy.

Oshim Ottawa (Atikamekw) is nominated for Performance in a Leading Role, Drama for Atikamekw Suns. Lise Yolande Awashish (Atikamekw) is nominated for Performance in a Supporting Role, Drama for Atikamekw Suns.

Métis director Marie Clements' Bones of Crows, a multi-generational epic about a residential school survivor, is nominated for Best Drama Series, Best Direction and Best Writing Drama Series. Grace Dove (Secwepemc) is nominated for Best Lead Performer, Drama Series for the show.

Paul Spence (Métis) is nominated for Performance in a Leading Role, Comedy for Deaner '89.

More nominees

Angie Pepper O'Bomsawin's (Abenaki/Kanien'kehá:ka) Little Big Community is nominated for Best Factual Series.

Anishinaabe director Lisa Jackson's Wilfred Buck and Wet'suwet'en filmmaker Jennifer Wickham's Yintah are nominated for Best Feature-length Documentary.

Saxon de Cocq (Metis) is nominated for Best Writing, Factual for the Food Sovereignty episode of Treaty Road.

Tanya Talaga's (Anishinaabe) docuseries The Knowing received several nominations including Best History Documentary Program or Series, Best Direction, Best Writing, Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research, and the Barbara Sears Award for Best Visual Research.

Ecko Aleck (Nlaka'pamux) is nominated for the Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary Program for S-yéwyáw: Awaken.

Lance Cardinal (Cree) is nominated for Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series for Indigenous Art Adventures.

ETalk Presents: The Devery Jacobs Interview host Michaella Montana, who is Cree, and Inuit producers of Women of the Land Stephanie Joline and Jessica Brown are nominated in the Best Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series category.

CBC's Maamuitaau, a documentary series in East Cree, and APTN Investigates are nominated for Best News or Information Series.

CBC Indigenous reporter Jackie McKay, who is Métis, is nominated for Best Local Reporter.

CBC Indigenous reporter Brett Forester, who is a member of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, is nominated for Best Web Program or Series, Non-Fiction for Indigenous Politics in one minute(ish) with Brett Forester.

Nominees are chosen by members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television and juries with representatives from the film, television, and digital media industries. 

The 2025 Canadian Screen Awards ceremonies will be held at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto May 30 to June 1.