Avonlea Collins says she didn91裸聊视频檛 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.
91裸聊视频淲e didn91裸聊视频檛 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,91裸聊视频� 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 weren91裸聊视频檛 delivered until after cast members had agreed to be a part of the project.
91裸聊视频漀one of us knew what the show was going on until the end, as (the show91裸聊视频檚 producers) weren91裸聊视频檛 informative about the specifics (at the start),91裸聊视频� explained Collins.
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Once selected for the show91裸聊视频�First Contact91裸聊视频擟ollins says cast members were filled in on its purpose and the stories producers were hoping they91裸聊视频檇 have the opportunity to tell through 28 days of shooting in various locations across the country.
91裸聊视频淎t first, I was a little worried at the beginning because you91裸聊视频檙e (always) a little (scared) about how you91裸聊视频檙e going to be portrayed,91裸聊视频� continued Collins.
91裸聊视频淏ut I took that risk, jumped in two feet first, and I91裸聊视频檓 really happy I did,91裸聊视频� said Collins emphatically. 91裸聊视频淚 feel like I have received a really positive outcome from the whole experience.91裸聊视频�
However, as they headed into the taping of the show, Collins says she struggled accepting the notion that she possessed stereotypes about Canada91裸聊视频檚 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)
91裸聊视频淚 grew up in Pemberton, and all my high school life I was in school with indigenous kids and white farm kids,91裸聊视频� said Collins. 91裸聊视频淭here wasn91裸聊视频檛 a lot of diversity, but it didn91裸聊视频檛 matter. We all grew up together (and) had slumber parties. I didn91裸聊视频檛 think I had stereotypes, but through this I learned that I do.
91裸聊视频淭he biggest (stereotype I had) was believing indigenous people are receiving things from the government that I wasn91裸聊视频檛, and it felt unfair. (But) through my journey I learned that wasn91裸聊视频檛 the case what so ever: the money they receive comes from their bands from a trust that91裸聊视频檚 (not) created (from our tax dollars).
91裸聊视频淏ut now I have a (more complete) understanding of the situation and a drive to learn more,91裸聊视频� 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: 91裸聊视频淲e became able to ask nearly any question we wanted the answer to 91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频�
Travelling throughout B.C., the show also went into the heart of indigenous communities in Winnipeg, Nunavut, Alberta, and Ontario.
91裸聊视频淚 couldn91裸聊视频檛 thank the communities more for (their openness and acceptance of us),91裸聊视频� said Collins. 91裸聊视频淭hey truly opened up about their hardest times, which is one of the hardest things to do.91裸聊视频�
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 director91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚t was bigger than me and them,91裸聊视频� said Collins of her decision to join the show91裸聊视频檚 cast. 91裸聊视频淣ow they91裸聊视频檒l be able to look back and say, 91裸聊视频楬ey! That91裸聊视频檚 my mom and she did that for us!91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
More-so, Collins says it was also an incredible personal journey and she91裸聊视频檚 glad for the experience. 91裸聊视频淲e went to a community in Nunavut that I was in awe of,91裸聊视频� said the stay-at-home-mom of two.
91裸聊视频淭he beauty of it and their community, and the way they interacted with each other: it91裸聊视频檚 not about trading for money or anything, it was about uplifting each other.
91裸聊视频淭hey only looked at their neighbour91裸聊视频檚 plate to make sure they had enough, not to see what they can take. They91裸聊视频檙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.
91裸聊视频滻 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, 91裸聊视频榃ould I have gained the same thing?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
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 show91裸聊视频檚 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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