Contact Information
Education
PhD in Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice, University of British Columbia (2021)
MA in Documentary Media Program, Ryerson University (2010)
BA in Fine Arts, Major Theatre Program, Concordia University (1996)
Biography
Born in Moose Factory Ontario, and a band member of Attawapiskat First Nation, the Ancestral lands of the MoshKeKo AsKi InNiNeWak, Jules was raised by her Cree speaking grandparents in Moosonee, as well as with her mother in Ottawa, a warrior of the Canadian Residential school system. Jules completed her PhD with GRSJ at UBC in 2021, and her research MooNaHaTihKaaSiWew: Unearthing Spirit focuses on Indigenous documentary methodologies. Jules has a number of academic publications regarding Indigenous filmmaking.
In 2010, she completed her masters at Ryerson University in Documentary Media where she was awarded the Award of Distinction for her thesis work, as well as the Graduate Ryerson Gold Medal for highest academic achievement. While in graduate school, she produced her first feature documentary Remembering Inninimowin regarding her journey of remembering Cree. After graduation, Jules was one of six women selected for the WIDC program, where she directed a scene from her feature Broken Angel. Her script was also selected for the TIFF’s Filmmaker lab, as well as the Whistler’s Screenwriting lab. Jules is an ACTRA member, a member of Directors Guild of Canada member, and part of the Blackmagic Collective Breakthrough Initiative in LA.
Jules’ company VisJuelles Productions Inc. has a number of media works in development. Her television series AskiBOYZ co-produced with Big Soul Production is currently being aired on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network in both Cree and English. She has released several award-winning CBC docs: NiiSoTeWak: Two Bodies, One Heart, OshKiKiShiKaw: A New Day and KaYaMenTa: Sharing Truths about Menopause. Over the years, she has released a number of other films/projects including Butterfly Monument about her relation, the late Shannen Koostachin with co-director/producer Rick Miller. Her narrative film OChiSkwaCho premiered at imagineNATIVE and screened at several other festivals worldwide. Jules recently released a short narrative MisTik and her feature drama Broken Angel. She is development with her next features Angela’s Shadow and KaTaWaSiSin. She is in production with her NFB feature documentary WaaPiiKee and Chubby Cree with Soapbox Production.
Jules was the Indigenous Storyteller in Residence with the Vancouver Public Library where she further developed her poetry, and soon after, Unearthing Secrets, Gathering Truths was published. Jules is currently writing her novel Moccasin Souls. She is represented by The Characters in Vancouver, and is the voice of Layla (Mom) on the new PBS Kids/CBC Kids animated series Molly of Denali. Jules is also represented by Lucas Talent for writing and directing. She carries extensive knowledge working in Indigenous community in several different capacities and these community experiences feed her arts practice.
In her Arts Alumni Q&A profile, she talks about how her education was critical for her academic and professional career as a creative artist and filmmaker while allowing her to challenge herself in navigating a colonial system. Read the Q&A