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This article was published 18/11/2019 (516 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Youth at Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad Inc., also known as Ndinawe, are preparing to showcase a series of seven short films they produced alongside established Winnipeg filmmaker Jim Agapito.
The series, called Welcome to Ndinawe, was shot over the course of nearly two years, and highlights various elements of the organization and the youth who access its services.
Ndinawe (650 Burrows Ave.) is a not-for-profit that helps at-risk kids between 11 to 17 years old.
As part of the Winnipeg Arts Council’s Youth WITH ART program, which matches a community group with an artist to plan and create a project, Ndinawe was paired with Agapito.
Although many youth at the centre took part in the project, five were the primary filmmakers — Gabrielle Fiddler, George Harper, Vaz Shingoose, Matthew Boulette, and Daniel Frazier. They addressed topics such as housing and shelter, food and cooking, and music and art.
Bernard Ferguson, the art program co-ordinator at Ndinawe, said the films provide a youth’s lens in to what it’s like living in the North End.
"I think the most important thing is they had a chance to have a voice and to speak about their experience… (and) the youth just getting a chance to show their work and creative experience.
"I’m hoping that people will have a little more in-depth look into youth culture, and youth culture in the North End, and the importance of youth programming," Ferguson said.
When the project first began, Fiddler, who is now 19, was a youth attending Ndinawe. But now she works at the centre as a youth activities facilitator with her sights set on a career in law enforcement.
"It was an opportunity to show Winnipeg, and possibly more, who we are," she said, adding that the series attempts to defeat stereotypes people often have of the North End.
Additionally, she said, the project allowed youth to explore their skills and identities while producing something they could be proud of.
Agapito, who previously lived in the North End area, said he saw growth not only in the identities of the youth but also in their abilities. He taught them the basics of camera art, including photography, audio, making storyboards, and editing.
"I think that programs like (Youth WITH ART) are great because it gives options to some of the kids," Agapito said.
"I think there’s a big need, and I hope that things like this don’t end because I think community groups really need stuff like this."
In addition to the film series, the youth also worked on a music video for Cancer Bats, a hardcore punk rock band from Toronto, Ont. The video for the song Brightest Days has more than 44,500 views on YouTube.
A public screening of the film series will be held at Sergeant Tommy Prince Place (90 Sinclair St.) on Fri., Nov. 22 between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
There will be free pizza and treats.

Sydney Hildebrandt
The Times community journalist
If The Buggles’ 1979 breakout single were about Sydney, it might be called Print Killed the Radio Star. Before she joined Canstar Community News, Sydney was an anchor and a reporter for a few local news radio stations in rural Manitoba. After realizing she enjoyed writing more than speaking, Sydney moved to Winnipeg just months after graduating from Carleton University in Ottawa with degrees in journalism and geography. Through clenched teeth and frostbitten fingers, she has come to appreciate Winnipeg — numbing winters and all. When she’s not in the newsroom, Sydney can be found playing card games, listening to music, and writing content for her friends who are too cheap to hire a PR team. Sydney has a strong heart for community news and believes every neighbourhood, town and city is better off because of it — although she may be biased. Sydney loves learning about communities and what makes them tick, which is why she’s grateful to be a reporter covering northwest Winnipeg neighbourhoods, where resilience and innovation is abundant. She can be reached at sydney.hildebrandt@canstarnews.com